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James 1R* IRutland 




Silvett Butbett & ffiompanig 




Class 1_ 

Book 

Copyright )j°- 



COFYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



OLD TESTAMENT — ^ 



STORIES 



EDITED FOR USE IN SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS BY 



JAMES R. RUTLAND 

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH 
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY 

BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO 



•55551 



Copyright, 1912, by 
Silver, Burdett & Company 



lif 



€CI.A314201 



^- PREFACE 



I 



'^^His edition of Old Testament Stories is intended chiefly 
for use in school and college classes, but it is hoped that the 
general reader may also find it to his liking. It has been pre- 
pared in accordance with the recommendation of the National 
Conference on Uniform Entrance Requirements in English, 
which has assigned readings from the ''Old Testament, com- 
prising at least the chief episodes in Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, 
Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Daniel, together with the books 
of Ruth and Esther/' 

It has been the plan of the editor to group these episodes, 
as far as possible, around the great men and women of the 
Bible. By this arrangement, none of the interest of the inci- 
dents of each hero story, as a separate story, is lost; and much 
is gained by compelling the student to associate them in his 
mind as parts of one story or biography. Beyond an index of 
proper names giving meaning and pronunciation, no notes 
have been deemed necessary. The text is that of the King 
James or Authorized Version. The italics and chapter and 
verse divisions of this version, however, have been discarded, 
and the text is grouped in paragraphs according to subjects. 
Besides omissions which were inevitable according to the plan 
of selection, the reader may note a few paraphrases and some 
omissions which were thought necessary in preparing the book 
for high school classes of both sexes. 

In the introduction is given a brief account of the Jewish 
nation in Palestine, of the origin and development of the Bible, 
of the lineage of our English versions, and of the Bible's in- 

3 



4 PREFACE 

fluence on the English language and literature. For what is 
found here the editor claims no originality. Besides many 
other sources, he is greatly indebted to the following: Smythe's 
'^How We Got Our Bible''; Moulton's ^^The Bible as Litera- 
ture''; Prothero's 'Tsalms in Human Life"; Nettleton's ''Old 
Testament Narratives"; Scott's '^Selections from the Old 
Testament"; Gardiner's "The Bible as English Literature"; 
Abbott's "The Life and Literature of the Ancient Hebrews"; 
Himt's "Ethical Teachings in Old English Literature"; Van 
Dyke's " Influence of the Bible in Literature," an article in 
the " Century Magazine," October, 1910. 

J. R. Rutland. 



Alabama Polytechnic Institute 
May, 191 2 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Introduction 9 

The Creation 39 

The Garden of Eden — The Fall — Cain and Abel. 

The Flood 46 

The Tower of Babel 51 

Abraham 52 

Abram and Lot — Isaac Promised — Abraham Prays for 
Sodom — Isaac Born — Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away — 
The Sacrifice of Isaac — Getting a Wife for Isaac — Abraham 
Dies. 

Jacob ...72 

Jacob Deceives Isaac — Jacob Flees from Esau — The 
Dream in Bethel — Jacob's Bargain with Laban — Jacob 
Leaves Laban — Esau's Present — The Wrestling with the 
Angel — Jacob Meets Esau — Rachel and Isaac Die. 

Joseph 89 

Joseph's Dream — Joseph Sold into Egypt — Joseph Inter- 
prets the Prisoners' Dreams — Pharaoh's Dream — Joseph, 
a Ruler in Egypt — The Famine — Jacob's Sons Go into 
Egypt — Joseph Makes Himself Known to his Brethren — 
Jacob Goes to Egypt — Joseph Buys up All the Land and 
Cattle — Jacob Dies — Joseph Dies. 

Moses 113 

The Baby Found — The FHght to Midian — The Burning 
' Bush — Moses Goes Back to Egypt — Pharaoh Burdens Israel 
More — Waters Turned to Blood — The Plague of the Frogs — 
The Cattle of Eg3rpt Smitten — Hail Destroys Egyptian Grain 
— The Plague of the Locusts — The Passover — The Firstborn 
Smitten — Moses Parts the Red Sea — The Egyptians Are 

5 



6 CONTENTS 

Drowned — Moses Makes Laws — Moses Strikes Water from 
the Rock — Amalek is Defeated — Jethro Joins Israel — 
Israel before Sinai — The Ten Commandments — Aaron 
Makes the Golden Calf — Moses Breaks the Tables — Three 
Thousand Israelites Slain — The Cry for Meat — The Seventy- 
Elders Chosen — Miriam and Aaron Punished — Spies Sent 
into Canaan — Joshua and Caleb — Conspiracy against 
Moses — The Rebels Swallowed Up — Aaron's Rod Blossoms 
— Moses Sins — The Fiery Serpents — Moses Dies. 

Balaam 173 

Joshua 182 

Rahab Harbors the Spies — Israel Crosses Jordan — Jericho 
Falls — Israel Defeated at Ai — Achan Stoned — The Gib- 
eonites — The Sun and the Moon Stand Still — Joshua's 
Parting Words — Joshua Dies. 

The Victory of Deborah and Barak . . . . . . .200 

Jael Smites Sisera. 

Gideon 203 

Gideon Pulls Down the Altar of Baal — The Fleece — The 
Victory. 

Abimelech and Jotham 209 

Jotham's Fable — Abimelech Is Slain. 

Jephthah 214 

Jephthah's Daughter Sacrificed. 

Samson '. 217 

Samson's Birth Foretold — • The Woman of Timnath — 
The Corn Fields are Burned — Philistines Slain with the Jaw- 
bone of an Ass — Samson and Delilah — Samson Pulls Down 
the Temple. 

Ruth 226 

Ruth and Naomi — Naomi Returns — Boaz and Ruth — 
Boaz Marries Ruth — Obed. 

Samuel, Saul, and David 234 

God Calls Samuel — Eli's Sons Killed — Israel Demands a 
King — Saul Seeks His Father's Asses — Samuel Anoints 
Saul — Saul Made King — Jonathan and His Armourbearer — 



CONTENTS 7 

Saul Sins — Samuel Beheads Agag — Samuel Anoints David — 
David Made Armourbearer to Saul — David Kills Goliath — 
Saul Tries to Kill David — Jonathan and David — David Cuts 
Saul's Skirt — Samuel Dies — David Spares Saul — The 
Witch of Endor — Samuel's Message — Saul Falls on His 
Sword — David, King of Judah — King of Israel — Uriah is 
Killed — Nathan's Parable — Absalom Conspires against 
David — Absalom's Death — David's Charge to Solomon. 

Solomon 283 

Solomon's Choice — The Queen of Sheba — Solomon's 
Disobedience — Ahijah Anoints Jeroboam. 

The Rebellion of Israel 289 

Elijah 291 

Elijah Fed by the Ravens — The Widow's Son Raised from 
the Dead — Ehjah and the Prophets of Baal — Under the 
Juniper Tree — Naboth's Vineyard — Elijah Prophesies 
Ahab's Death — The Captains of Fifties Killed — Ehjah is 
Taken Up. 

Elisha 306 

The Widow's Oil Increased — The Shunammite's Child — 
Naaman, the Leper — Gehazi Cursed — • The King of Syria 
Discomfited — Jehu is Anointed — Jezebel Dies — The Death 
of Elisha. 

Jonah 318 

Jonah's Call — The Storm — Jonah Preaches to Nineveh — 
Jonah Gets Angry. 

Daniel 322 

Daniel Refuses to Eat the King's Meat — The King's Dream 

— Daniel is Honoured — The Image of Gold — The Fiery 
Furnace — Nebuchadnezzar's Dream — Daniel Made Prince 

— The Lion's Den. 

Esther 341 

Vashti Disobeys — Esther is Presented — Ahasuerus Loves 
Esther — The Edict to Kill All Jews — Esther Appeals to 
the King — The King Honours Mordecai — Haman is Hanged 

— The Feast of Purim. 

Chronology 357 

Index of Proper Names 359 



INTRODUCTION 



I. The Hebrews in Palestine 

The narrow strip of land lying between the Arabian Desert 
and the Mediterranean Sea, naturally accessible to the ancient 
kingdoms of Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt, has played a 
most important part in the history of the world. Through 
the Phoenicians and other Semitic peoples living there, came 
the arts, learning and literature of those three great ancient 
civilizations to the Greeks and thence to Europe. From the 
Hebrews at a later period came to Western peoples the Bible 
and the idea of one God, the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. 

According to the Bible, Abraham, the forefather of the 
Hebrews, migrated out of Babylonia (b. c. 2000) into the land 
of Canaan in Syria. Several years later his grand- ^j^^ 

son, Jacob, went into Egypt to avoid the stringency Migrations 
of a famine, and here his descendants remained for ^ ^ •'^^^ 
three or four centuries. These people were characterized by 
their belief in one God, who was personally directing their 
fortimes and through whom they believed that they would 
eventually possess the land in which they had sojourned. 
Still they remained in Egypt as long as they were allowed to 
control their own affairs. But when their prodigious growth 
aroused the fear of Pharaoh so that he took away their inde- 
pendence and forced them into bondage, they remembered 
'Hhe promised land.'' Then, under the leadership of Moses, 
they fled from Egypt across the Red Sea (b. c. 1600), organ- 
ized themselves into a nation, and, after forty years of wander- 
ing and fighting, made their way back into Canaan. 



10 INTRODUCTION 

After the death of Joshua, who was the chief leader in the 
invasion and subjugation of Canaan, the nation of twelve 
The tribes was broken up into petty states, only occa- 

Jews in sionally to be reunited against some powerful 
anaan common enemy under the leadership of the Judges, 
until Saul was made king (b. c. 1080). David, SauFs suc- 
cessor and the greatest warrior his race has produced, slowly 
but surely rid the land of all its enemies, and left to his son, 
Solomon, peace and a well-ordered kingdom. The wealth 
and the glory of his reign were a marvel to nations round 
about him, but from his time on, the prestige of his people 
declined, and three years after his death (b. c. 978) the realm 
History ^^^ divided into the two kingdoms of Judah and 
of Judah Israel. About the middle of the eighth century 
an srae ^^ ^ 750), Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, invaded 
the kingdom of Israel and carried the ten tribes away to the 
mountains of Media, where they disappeared from history; 
and brought colonists from Persia, Babylonia, and neighbor- 
ing lands to take their places. A little over a century after 
this (b. c. 588) Nebuchadnezzar swooped down upon Judah, 
burned Jerusalem, and carried many of its inhabitants to 
Babylon, where they flourished in ^Hhe second land of Canaan" 
nearly sixteen hundred years. Fifty years later (b. c. 538), 
however, when Cyrus, king of Persia, took possession of 
Babylon, forty thousand of these Jews under the leadership 
of Ezra and Nehemiah were allowed to return to Palestine 
and rebuild Jerusalem. Although after this they were a more 
or less independent people till the destruction of Jerusalem 
by the Romans (a. d. 70), they acknowledged in the third 
century the lordship of Alexander the Great; a little later 
that of Soter, one of Alexander's generals and ruler of Egypt, 
who carried one hundred thousand Jews off to Alexandria; 
and, after him, that of the Syrians till b. c. 165. Under the 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 11 

leadership of the Maccabees they won their independence 
from the Syrians and held it for over one hundred years. 
Jerusalem fell into the hands of Pompey b. c. 63. From then 
till 15 16, when Palestine became a part of Turkey, the land 
of the Jews shared the fate of the Roman and Byzantine 
Empires. 

To these people, who lived in the midst of nations sodden 
in nature worship, whose devotion was sorely tested and whose 
wisdom was purified by a career almost unparalleled in adver- 
sity, the world owes the purest religion and the best of books. 
Whether considered as a guide in moral and spiritual life 
or merely as literature, the Bible is the greatest book in existence. 

II. The Hebrew Bible and Two Early Translations 

The Bible, as the derivation of the word implies, is really a 
collection of books. It is the literature of the ancient Jews 
that has come down to us. We recognize its com- ^ 

posite character in giving it two distinct parts, Collection 
the Old and the New Testaments. Each of its ^f Books 
books is as distinctly an independent production as Milton's 
''Paradise Lost'' or Tennyson's ''In Memoriam." If "Beo- 
wulf," the poems of Spenser, the plays of Shakespeare, and 
Wesley's hymns were bound in one volume, the miscellaneous- 
ness of the collection would be not unlike that of the Bible. 
Lyman Abbott says that when we examine the Bible as a 
literary production, "we discover at once that it is not a book 
but a hbrary; that it is composed of sixty-six different books 
bound up together; that they were apparently written by forty 
or more different authors; that they were written at different 
epochs, for different readers, under widely different circum- 
stances; and that more than twice as many years elapsed 
between the first and last writing as elapsed between Chaucer's 
poems and the writing of Tennyson's." 



12 INTRODUCTION 

''We further discover," he continues, ''that it contains many 
different types of Hterature. Genesis is a collection of pre- 
historic narratives ; Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 
a collection of ancient laws, civil and ecclesiastical, embedded 
in history; Kings and Chronicles, a series of historical records; 
Ruth, an idyl of the common people; Esther, an historical 
romance of court life; Job, an 'epic of the inner life'; the 
Psalms, a Hebrew hymnal for church and home worship; 
Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings of many authors; the 
Song of Songs, a drama of love strong under temptation; 
Ecclesiastes, a poem, illustrating the 'two voices' which are 
ever appearing in conflicting interpretations of human life, — 
the interpretation of cynicism, and that of faith and hope; 
and finally the books of the prophets, volumes of sermons, 
chiefly on national affairs, by the great preachers of this pecu- 
liar people." Like the literature of any other great people, 
it has legend, law, history, poetry, fiction, drama, oration, 
philosophy. Unlike other literatures, one main purpose and 
spirit runs through all its forms in all ages, — a profound 
interest in moral and religious hfe; a consciousness of God's 
guiding influence in all life of the nation and the individual. 
This is one reason why the Bible has for us sufficient unity 
to be considered one book. The Bible, then, is a record of 
the doings of the Jewish people, their outlook upon hfe, their 
way of living and thinking, their sentiments, aspirations and 
wisdom. 

The ten words of Moses, afterwards expanded into the 
Ten Commandments, are supposed by some to be the oldest 
jj^g Hebrew scripture contained in the Bible. But 

Changing before the death of Moses much of what is now 
^^^ contained in the Pentateuch had been written. So, 

gradually, as time went on, other scriptures were added to 
these. Traditions like those of the creation and of Eden were 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 13 

put in written form; songs like those of Hannah, SamuePs 
mother, and of Deborah and Barak; fables Kke that of the 
trees choosing a king; legends, stories of heroes and kings, 
laws, sermons, poems, proverbs, — all were written down for 
the instruction of this peculiarly devout people. Very few, 
if any, of all these books have come down to us as they were 
first written. The law in the books of Moses consists of layer 
upon layer of revisions at so many different times that it is 
impossible to disentangle them. In Genesis scholars see the 
handiwork of at least four writers or revisers. It seems that 
each succeeding scribe added to, excerpted, or paraphrased 
at will, his sources. Sometimes he would use two different 
accounts of the same event, as in the story of the Creation, 
not without some confusion. Thus the written form, like 
oral tradition, was constantly changing. 

That the books in our Bible were not all the books produced 
by the ancient Jews, it is natural to suppose. In fact, fifteen 
other books are referred to in the Old Testament and others 
are mentioned in the Apocrypha. Jude quotes from the book 
of Enoch; Jesus and James quote from books unknown to 
us to-day. The reason for this is somewhat evident in the 
fact that the books of the Apocrypha, which are included in 
the Septuagint, are left out of our Bible because they were 
considered of uncertain authority and inspiration. From the 
very first the Hebrews regarded certain books as 
more sacred than others. These constituted the r 

Canon, the authoritative standard of religion and 
morals. Moses, just before leaving the children of Israel for 
the last time, commanded the Levites to put the ''book of 
the law" in the side of the ark. To this were added, if we are 
to believe the references in a later part of the Old Testament, 
at various times, Joshua, historical sketches, proverbs, and 
some prophecies. It will be remembered that Deuteronomy 



14 INTRODUCTION 

was rediscovered or rewritten during the reign of King Josiah 
and was solemnly reenacted by the congregation. It is prob- 
ably to Ezra that we are indebted for the Canon of the Law 
in its final form. To Nehemiah we are indebted for the ''acts 
of the kings and the prophets, and those of David" which he 
gathered together for the Ubrary of the second temple in the 
fifth century (b. c. 432). ''The Law and the Prophets and 
the Rest of the Books'' and "the laws and oracles produced 
by the prophets and hymns and other" writings are early 
descriptions of the Canon. Josephus names these twenty-two 
books as "divine": "the five books of Moses, thirteen of the 
prophets, and four of hymns and directions of life." Appar- 
ently he did not consider Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the 
Song of Solomon as canonical. He tells us also that since 
the death of Artaxerxes (b. c. 424), "no one had dared to 
add anything to them, to take anything from them, or to make 
any change in them." Thus the final form of the Jewish 
Canon, which is identical with ours, was settled as early as 
the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. In order to make the thirty- 
nine books accord with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew 
alphabet, Josephus counted the twelve minor prophets as one, 
coupled Ruth with Judges, Nehemiah with Ezra, Lamenta- 
tions with Jeremiah, and counted the two books of Samuel, 
Kings and Chronicles as one each. 

After the Jews had been scattered abroad over the face of 
the earth and the old Hebrew language ceased to be spoken, 
translations became necessary. Besides the Samari- 
Septuagint ^^^ version the earhest that we know of are trans- 
lations into the Greek. Of a great number of 
these, the most important is the Septuagint, which was trans- 
lated, according to tradition, by seventy-two Jews, each of 
whom, in a separate cell, made a complete translation of the 
Old Testament; and, when compared, these seventy-two copies 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 15 

were, found to be so nearly identical that they were deemed 
inspired. This is the version which was used by the Alexan- 
drian Jews and the early Christians. The translation was not 
always accurate and there are occasional additions to the text. 
Jerome, the translator of the Vulgate, disbelieved this legend 
of its inspiration; and the differences of style in different parts, 
and the manifold inequalities of literary merit, indicate that 
the work was done by several different writers and at several 
different times. The translation was probably completed in 
Alexandria in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (b. c. 285). 
It furnished English translators with the Apocrypha, settled 
the order of the Old Testament books, and greatly influenced 
the style of the New Testament. 

The next important version is the Vulgate (the popular 
version). With the ascendancy of the Roman empire and 
the spreading of Christianity among Latin-speaking 
peoples came many Latin versions. These were Vuleate 
so numerous and so inexact that scholars every- 
where felt the need of a revision. To do this work, the Bishop 
of Rome selected a devout scholar now generally known as 
St. Jerome. The New Testament, which he translated from 
the Greek (in which language it was originally written), ap- 
peared A. D. 385. His version of the Old Testament, which 
appeared later, he translated not from the Septuagint but 
from the original Hebrew manuscripts. Although Jerome's 
translation met with much serious opposition, it had by the 
sixth century won its way into the hearts of the people, and 
continued to be the popular edition for at least ten centuries. 
It is important to us because it was the text of early English 
translators. Besides, its influence can be seen in the style of 
Tyndale's version and its revisions, and in many specific 
phrases of the Authorized Version, and in the general style 
of all English translators. 



16 INTRODUCTION 

III. The Bible in English 

Versions of the Bible in English, like those in Greek and 
in Latin, are numerous. Although translators and translations 
Early ^^^ ^ matter of uncertainty, English versions of 

Para- parts of the Bible began to appear not many years 

p ases ^£^^j. g^^ Augustine came to England with Christian- 
ity (a. d. 597). According to Bede, about the middle of the 
seventh century (665) Caedmon, the cowherd poet of Whitby, 
made poetical paraphrases or free translations of Genesis, 
Exodus, and other historical books. To our Anglo-Saxon 
ancestors, who could not read and whose chief delight was 
in the battle, the chase and the banquet, songs were more 
attractive than sermons. The power of books was so insigni- 
ficant beside that of the minstrels that poetical paraphrase 
and glosses of the Gospels and Psalms took the place of exact 
translations. There were perhaps other versions of which we 
have no record. A more certain fact is that Guthlac, Aldhelm 
(who translated the Psalms and disguised himself as a bard 
to beguile wayfarers by his singing), Egbert (who translated 
the Gospels), and Bede, the father of English learning (who 
translated the Gospels, finishing John in his dying moments), 
in the eighth century added materially in giving the Bible 
to their countrymen. In the ninth century AKred prepared 
a partial version of the Psalms and Gospels and affixed the 
Ten Commandments to his code of laws; and Aelfric in the 
tenth century translated into the vernacular the books of 
Moses, Joshua, Judges, Kings, Esther, Judith, Maccabees 
and part of Job ; and was the first man to translate into English 
prose any considerable portion of the Bible. All the chief 
writers of Christian Anglo-Saxon times were holy men, and 
vernacular written English became eminently Biblical. 

After Aelfric came the '^Ormulum" (1215), which was a 
metrical paraphrase of parts of the Bible; the Surtees Metrical 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 17 

Psalter (early fourteenth century) ; Richard RoUe de Hampole's 
translation of the psalter and Job for the Northumbrians 
(1340); William of Shorham's prose psalter for the people of 
Kent; and, if Caxton and Sir Thomas More be correct, the 
English Bible of John of Trevisa. However, there is now no 
reliable record of the existence of this Bible. Besides it is 
unlikely that a complete English translation existed before 
Wy cliff e, for his work was denounced as ^^a pernicious inno- 
vation." The first translation of the entire Bible into Enghsh 
is Wycliffe's, which appeared in 1380 (New Testament). It 
was Wycliffe's conviction that the Bible would be more effec- 
tive than tradition in the reformation of character. Therefore 
he set himself to work to give the simple Gospel 
message to his people through a translation into ^^ Bible 
their own tongue and through an organized com- 
pany of trained missionaries to spread it abroad. About half 
of the Old Testament is ascribed to Nicholas of Hereford, 
a prominent Lollard leader. The greatest defect of the work 
is that it was based on the Vulgate; but other versions were 
inaccessible, and in all probability nobody in England at the 
time was capable of consulting the Greek and the Hebrew. 
However, the Latin is rendered faithfully into excellent four- 
teenth-century vernacular English. Besides the divisions of 
the Bible into chapters, many expressions as ^Hhe beam and 
the mote," *Hhe cup of blessing which we bless," ^^the depe 
things of God," *^ straight is the gate and narewe is the waye," 
"a man shall be born again," which occur in the Authorized 
Version, originated with Wycliffe's translation. In 1388, 
Purvey revised Wycliffe's version, making a good translation 
a better one. Although it was written about a century before 
printing and had to be circulated in manuscript, it was the 
Bible of England till 1526, when Tyndale's New Testament 
arrived from the continent. Despite the decree of a coimcil 



18 INTRODUCTION 

at Oxford in 1408 that no one should read Wy cliff e's Bible 
and the severe persecution of Wycliffe and his followers, the 
Bible remained and ^^ great multitudes/' says Foxe, ^Hasted 
and followed the sweetness of God's holy word.'' Besides 
contributing its share toward the development of English 
speech into a literary dialect and toward the purification of 
corruption in church and state, it spread and kept alive the 
idea of a people's Bible in the people's English. 

Superior to this version and all versions preceding it was 
Tyndale's translation (1525-1531), which was the first printed 

English translation. Since the time of Wycliffe, 
Transla^tion ^^ Revival of Learning, which aroused among the 

scholars of Western Europe an enthusiastic interest 
in the study of Greek and Hebrew, had also brought to them 
the oldest manuscripts accessible. Furthermore Colet at Ox- 
ford and Erasmus at Cambridge, who brought to England 
enthusiasm for the new learning, encouraged the dissemination 
of the scriptures. Erasmus, who translated the New Testament 
into English, expressed a hope that the husbandman might 
sing parts of the Bible at his work. William Tyndale, who 
may have known these scholars, for he went to both Oxford 
and Cambridge, caught this spirit; and believing, like Wycliffe, 
that the best way to establish the truths of religion was to give 
the people the Bible in their own tongue, he determined to 
translate it into English. Having already translated some 
portions from the original Greek, he applied to the Bishop 
of London, who was a generous patron of learning, for per- 
mission to carry the work on in the episcopal palace under his 
lordship's protection, and was refused. He was harbored for 
about a year by a London merchant, but soon saw that *^in 
all England, there was no room for attempting a translation 
of the scriptures." He crossed over to Cologne on the conti- 
nent and proceeded with his work until his secret was discovered 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 19 

and he was compelled to flee. Taking with him as many of 
his printed sheets as he could gather up in his haste to escape, 
he carried them to Worms, a strong and enthusiastic Protestant 
Community; and there at length he issued the first printed 
English New Testament. Copies reached England in 1526 
packed in bales of cloth or other merchandise in order to pre- 
serve them against the destructive wrath of the churchmen. 

For the majority of Christian scholars the history of the 
present English Bible begins with Tyndale, because he did 
not base his version oh the Vulgate, as did Wycliffe, but on 
the original Greek and Hebrew texts. The simple, terse, 
vigorous English is a sufficient confirmation of his prophecy, 
that the ploughboys of England would know more of the word 
of God than the Pope himself knew. Being a gifted writer 
and a deep and painstaking scholar thoroughly devoted to 
the needs of the common people of England, he prepared a 
faithful version of the ancient text suitable alike to all classes 
of men. His Bible is the best example extant of the language 
and literature of his time, and is the basis in many essential 
particulars of nearly all, if not all, of the subsequent versions. 
In fact, his translation was so true to the original, so felicitous 
in diction and majestic in rhythm, that it fixed the language 
and style of fully four fifths of the King James Version. 

Following Tyndale' s translation came two or three versions 
which deserve mention. Miles Coverdale, who undertook to 
carry on Tyndale's work, published in 1535 the u jj^g Q^-g^t 
first entire printed Bible. His version, which was Bible" and 
based on what Tyndale had translated and some Others 

Dutch (German) and Latin versions, added to Tyndale's 
simplicity of diction a somewhat greater finish of phrase. 
Both had the true note of literary distinction. In 1537 ap- 
peared Matthew's Bible, published by John Rogers, Tyndale's 
literary executor. In this was used Tyndale's original version 



20 INTRODUCTION 

and an unpublished translation by Tyndale of Joshua, Judges, 
Ruth, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, the rest being taken 
from Coverdale's. This was revised by Tavemer two years 
later; and in this form, due to the diplomacy of Cromwell, 
was the first version in English to receive formal sanction by 
royal authority. ^^The Great Bible," which came out in 1539, 
was simply a new version based on Matthew's and was pre- 
pared by Coverdale at the command of Cromwell, who for 
his own safety was anxious to cover up Tyndale's trail and 
tone down Roger's marginal notes as much as possible before 
the king should discover what he had approved. Owing to 
the fact that Cranmer wrote the preface to the second edition 
which appeared in 1540, it is sometimes called Cranmer's 
Bible, and was the version of the established church bearing 
the sanction of the king. From this version was taken the 
scripture of the English Church Prayer Book. 

It is interesting to note that, although Tyndale was burned 
at the stake and his Bible proscribed because he opposed 
Henry's divorce, and was so unorthodox as to be influenced 
by Lutheranism, to write ^'heretical" works, and to ignore 
ecclesiastical meanings of certain words {e. g. ''grace," ''pen- 
ance," and "priest") in his translation, Matthew's Bible con- 
taining Tyndale's condemned work was the first authorized 
version. It received royal sanction almost before the great 
hero was one year in his grave. Toward the end of Henry 
VIII's reign, however, a reaction set in and parliament pro- 
scribed Tyndale and Coverdale and marginal notes in all 
Bibles. But the tide turned again during the reign of Edward 
VI, when thirteen editions of the entire Bible and thirty-five 
of the New Testament came from the press and copies were 
set up in the churches again. But Mary put an end to all this, 
sent Cranmer and others to death, and compelled the leading 
Protestants, including Coverdale, to flee to the continent. 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 21 

It was natural that these refugees, representing as they 
did the Puritan faction of the church, should seek Geneva, 
the home of Calvin, and that they should set r^^^ 

immediately to work at the preparation of a ver- Genevan 
sion more suitable to their tastes. The New ^ ® 

Testament of the Genevan Bible came out in 1557 and the 
Old Testament was published with it in 1560. This version 
is of special interest because it divided the chapters into verses, 
added marginal notes which were clear and to the point, 
changed the old black type for the common clear Roman 
type, abandoned the unwieldy folio for the more handy and 
less expensive quarto, and omitted the Apocrypha. This 
translation was based on Tyndale's and was made with as 
faithful accuracy to the original texts as the best learning of 
the age could produce. It marks the beginning of modem 
Bible English. Its homely diction so commended itself to 
the middle classes that it was the most popular Bible of Eng- 
land for over half a century. 

The next version of importance was the Bishops' Bible, 
which was the Bible of the established church. It was based 
on Cranmer's, against the Anglicanism of which ^j^^ 

the Genevan was a protest, and was edited under Bishops' 
the supervision of Archbishop Parker. Although ^ ® 

it was issued by the church to supersede the popular Genevan 
version, which was clothed with the prestige of Beza and Cal- 
vin, its circulation was considerably less than half as large 
as that of its competitor. England then had three different 
versions in use: the Genevan, which was the favorite of the 
people in general; the Bishops'; and the Great Bible of Henry 
VIII, which was still chained to many a wooden desk in the 
country churches throughout England. But none of these 
could well be accepted as the Bible of the whole English 
people. The Genevan, though an excellent translation, cheap 



22 INTRODUCTION 

and convenient for general use, was by reason of the Puritan 
character of its notes the Bible of a party; the Great Bible 
was antiquated and cumbersome; and the Bishops^ version 
was an inferior work which neither commanded the respect of 
scholars nor suited the wants of the people. A new version 
was demanded. 

In January, 1604, at a conference of bishops and clergy 
presided over by King James I, the defectiveness of the cur- 
The ^^^^ Bibles was unexpectedly brought up, and 

King James Doctor Reynolds, the leader of the Puritan party, 
ersion proposed that a new version be made which could 
be accepted by all parties. The bishops of the established 
church, probably because the proposal was made by a Puri- 
tan, opposed this. But James, who disliked the popular edi- 
tion, because, as he said, the '^ notes were very partial, untrue, 
seditious, and savoring too much of dangerous and traitorous 
conceits," was pleased and soon thereafter made arrangements 
for carrying out the work. Fifty-four learned men were 
selected impartially from highchurchmen, Puritans, and others 
not connected with any party. Some of the rules set down 
for the guidance of this band of scholars were that the Bishops' 
Bible should be used as a basis and departed from only when 
the text required it; that any competent scholar in the realm 
might be consulted about special difficulties; that differences 
of opinion should be settled at a general meeting; that the 
divisions into chapters should be as little changed as possible; 
that the marginal references should be given from one scripture 
to another ; and that there should be no marginal notes except 
for the explanation of Hebrew and Greek words. 

Thus putting aside all chance for unseemly rivalry, they 
set to work as translators never had before. They were di- 
vided into six companies, each of which took a share of the 
work. Every known help was laid under contribution. The 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 23 

original Hebrew and Greek were studied, and to get the exact 
sense of each passage the best commentaries of Europe, Bibles 
in German, French, Italian, and Spanish, both Catholic and 
Protestant, were consulted. Among these the Douay-Rheims 
version, the present standard Roman Catholic Bible, deserves 
special mention. ^'Neither did we disdain to revise that which 
we had done," said one of the revisers, ^^to bring back to the 
anvil that which we had hammered." Such was the zeal, 
scholarship, and literary genius of these men that we possess 
to-day a version that, for its scholarly spirit, its literary and 
linguistic merits, and '4ts peculiar genius and Saxon simplicity," 
has no superior in any language. It was completed in 1611. 

**It Hves on the ear Uke a music that can never be for- 
gotten," says Father Faber, a Roman Catholic, who speaks 
of its uncommon beauty and marvelous EngHsh, ^4ike the 
sound of church bells, which the convert scarcely knows how 
he can forego. Its fehcities seem often to be almost things 
rather than words. It is part of the national mind and the 
anchor of the national seriousness. The memory of the dead 
passes into it. The potent traditions of childhood are stereo- 
typed in its verses. It is representative of man's best moments; 
all that there has been about him of ' soft and gentle and pure 
and penitent and good, speaks to him forever out of his Eng- 
lish Bible. It is his sacred thing, which doubt never dimmed 
and controversy never soiled ; and in the length and breadth of the 
land there is not a Protestant with one spark of religiousness 
about him whose spiritual biography is not in his Saxon Bible." 

For three centuries the Authorized Version has been the 
Bible of English-speaking peoples. However, at intervals 
during the last two centuries scholars have been ^^^ 

calling attention to needed corrections and making Revised 
suggestions for revision. Since 161 1 a vast amount ersion 

of Biblical information, including old manuscripts, versions, 



24 INTRODUCTION 

and quotations in other writings, has come to light. In recent 
years scholars have been better able than ever before to handle 
these, owing to more exact knowledge of ancient languages, 
and greater skill in textual analysis. Furthermore, many 
words and expressions in the old version have become obso- 
lete or have changed in meaning since 1611. Early in 1870, 
the desirability of revising the King James Version was taken 
up by the English church; and later in the same year a com- 
pany of scholars began the work of revision, which they fin- 
ished in 1885. Before the revised form was published a com- 
pany of American scholars was called upon for suggestions. 
About fifteen years later these men issued an American Re- 
vised Version, embodying the readings that they had suggested 
to the British committee and such other improvements as had 
occurred to them in the interval. This version, the Revised 
Version, is undoubtedly a closer translation of the original 
than the Authorized Version; but the revisers have been 
accused of sacrificing smoothness and beauty of expression 
for accuracy of translation. Other advantages of this version 
are the grouping of the text into paragraphs according to 
subjects and the printing of poetry in metrical form. Not- 
withstanding its advantages and its deserved popularity, it is 
not likely to supplant in the hearts of this generation the old 
version either as literature or as the Bible of the people. 

IV. The Bible and English Literature 

As this brief account of English versions indicates, the in- 
fluence of the Bible on the English language and literature is 
Influence almost incalculable. The histories of vernacular 
of Early speech and of Biblical translations have run side ■ 
Translation ^^ ^j^^ ^j^^^ ^^ ^j^^^ ^j Augustine. By far the 

larger part of Anglo-Saxon literature that has come down to 
us is eminently Biblical. In fact, nearly all the chief writers 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 25 

before the Norman Conquest were, in some sense, translators 
of the Bible. The names of Caedmon, Bede, Alfred, and 
Aelfric are inseparably connected with the translation of the 
scriptures; and Cynewulf's ^^ Christ" can hardly be denied 
the privilege of being a paraphrase. It is said that Aelfric, 
in preparing manuals for the schools, was careful to translate 
portions of the scripture for daily use in order to keep the lan- 
guage free from the influence of foreign tongues. Thus not 
only did Biblical English leaven the speech and writings of 
literary men, the church book of ceremonies, and the homilies 
of the priest, but it also shaped and guided the thought and 
speech of children in school and at home. 

In the turmoil of the years following the Norman Conquest 
the metrical versions of Orme and Hampole, like Caedmon's 
Paraphrases, kept fresh for the subjugated Saxon 
Biblical truth in his native tongue. Then followed Bible and 
Wy cliff e's translations, containing over ninety per English 
cent of native English words. It is said that 
these versions *^did more to maintain and diffuse the lan- 
guage in its purity than all other agencies combined," and 
*Hhat they exerted a decided influence in developing that 
particular dialect of English, the East-Midland, which be- 
came the literary form of the language; that they tended to 
prepare the way for Chaucer, who was personally indebted to 
these translations for much of the wealth and beauty of his 
diction." 

English was now undergoing its evolution from an inflec- 
tional language, like German or Latin, to a language with a 
much greater freedom of form. Wycliffe's Bible, and later 
Tyndale's, not only recorded the progress of this great change 
and popularized the forms as they were established, but also 
preserved the language of the common people as the literary 
language. Because of his learning, his devotion, and his 



26 INTRODUCTION 

avowed aim to make a Bible for the ploughboys of England, 
Tyndale's influence, coming, as it did, on the heels of this 
great evolution and in the early youth of the art of printing, 
was especially far-reaching and fortunate. During a very 
critical period in linguistic development, it saved the English 
idiom unimpaired by any foreign mixture. 

Coming to the King James Version, we find that in literary 
excellence, as a specimen of either theological or common 
The English, it has never been surpassed. Preserving 

Cumulative what was best in the old versions, it is from one 
ersion point of view a cumulative product; yet, it is the 
purest and best example of Elizabethan English. Since the 
growth of the language required revised versions from time 
to time, and since each version is a good specimen of the lan- 
guage of its period, the history of the Bible in English is in- 
separably bound up with the history of the language. The 
Bible, having in all times been translated into the vernacular 
and being the book most generally read, wielded a powerful 
influence upon the speech of the people. 

It is perfectly natural for priests to speak in the language 
of the Bible and to acquire some of its excellence and grandeur 
Chaucer ^^ style. It is easy to see why people talk in Bibli- 
and the cal phraseology who live daily with the Bible as 
almost their only book. But has the Bible had a 
truly effective influence upon our greatest writers? Chaucer, 
^Hhe father of English poetry,'' was a man of the world, a 
courtier, a minister of state, a business man, and a student. 
He had extraordinary powers of observation, was interested 
in the many forms of life about him, and insisted on seeing 
men and nature from new points of view. Still, if we judge 
from the quotations he puts in the mouths of the Parson, 
the Summoner, the ^^Frere," and other characters of his 
Canterbury Tales, his familiarity with the Bible was not 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 27 

inconsiderable. The Prioress begins the prologue of her tale 
with a quotation from the Psalms : 

*^^0 Lord, our Lord, Thy name how marveillous 
Is in this large world y-sprad,' — quod she.'^ 

The Nun's Priest, in concluding his interesting story with a 
moral, says: 

*^For seint Poul saith, that al that writen is, 
To oure doctrine it is i-write iwys. 
Taketh the fruit, and let the chaf be stille.'' 

Five of the seventeen famous people whose rise to great estate 
and consequent fall is related in the Monk's Tale are Bible 
characters. The Parson's Tale is a compendium of warnings 
profusely illuminated with scriptural condemnation of sin. 
In *'Good Counseil," one of his best known lyrics, we have 
this: 

^^Do wel thy-self that other folk canst rede. 
And trouthe thee shal delyver, hit ys no drede." 

Besides these two evident paraphrases of Biblical statements, 
there are several others in the poem. If Langland, the preacher 
and moralist, whose '^Vision of Piers Plowman" is clothed 
in the language of the Bible, had written these Hues we would 
regard their spiritual intensity as only natural. But Chaucer, 
the courtier and man of the world, also knew his Bible. 

The student can trace in the masterpieces of Elizabethan 
literature the same influence on language, imagery, and thought. 
Wyatt, Surrey, Spenser, Sidney, the Countess of Bacon 

Pembroke, Queen Elizabeth, James I, Phinehas and the 
Fletcher, Bacon, and George Herbert, besides ® 

others less eminent, were versifiers of the Psalms. In com- 
menting on Psalm loi to the Duke of Buckingham about 



28 INTRODUCTION 

advancing courtiers, Bacon wrote, '*In these the choice had 
need be of honest, faithful servants, as well of comely out- 
sides who can bow the knee and kiss the hand. King David 
propounded a rule to himself for the choice of his courtiers. 
He was a wise and good king, and a wise and good king shall 
do well to follow such a good example; and if he find any to 
be faulty, which perhaps cannot suddenly be discovered, let 
him take on him this resolution as King David did, 'There 
shall no deceitful person dwell in my house.' " In his essay 
*^0n Atheism," he comments on the shallowness of the fool 
who said in his heart, ''There is no God." In "Of Riches," 
he says, ''Usury is one of the certainest means of gain, though 
one of the worst; as that whereby a man doth eat his bread 
in the sweat of another's brow." Bacon quotes very frequently 
from the Bible, exhibiting an acquaintance with it almost equal 
to that of Shakespeare. 

Though Shakespeare is usually heralded as the chief flower 
of the pagan Renaissance, no other book was better known 

_ , to him than the Bible. When Adam in "As You 

Shake- 
speare and Like It" prays, 

the Bible . . ^^ i 111 r ^ 

"He that doth the ravens feed, 

Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, 

Be comfort to my age!" 

or when the King in "Hamlet" asks, 

"What if this cursed hand 
Were thicker than itseK with brother's blood. 
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens 
To wash it white as snow?" 

or when Helena in "All's Well" says, 

"He that of greatest works is finisher 
Oft does them by the weakest minister: 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 29 

So Holy Writ in babes hath judgment shown, 
When Judges have been babes ; great floods have flown 
From simple sources, and great seas have dried 
When miracles have by the greatest been denied: '* 

is it possible to doubt his intimacy with either the phraseology 
or the spirit of the Bible? One can hardly find a more rever- 
ential allusion to Jesus than this: 

**Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes 
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, 
The bird of dawning singeth all night long: 
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad. 
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 
No fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm, 
So hallow'd and so gracious is the time." 

Bishop Wordsworth in his book, ^^Shakespeare's Kjiowledge 
and Use of the Bible," has pointed out hundreds of explicit 
references to Biblical facts and characters in Shakespeare. 

Thomas Dekker, a contemporary of Shakespeare, char- 
acterizes Jesus as ^'The first true gentleman that ever breathed." 
George Peele, another contemporary, .based one of his best 
poetical dramas on the story of David and Bath-sheba. 

Less than a century later Milton turned the story of Samson 
into the form of a classic drama. Besides ^^ Samson Agonistes," 
''Paradise Lost" and ''Paradise Regained," like Milton 
giant oaks, grew up out of Biblical theology and Bunyan 
story. Quotations in his tracts and prose essays ^^ ^^ ®^ 
and the sustained fervor, the moral elevation, and the purity 
of all that he wrote evince not merely famiharity with the 
scriptures but a profound and reverential love of them. To 
the Bible, we owe Bunyan. It was his first inspiration and 
the source of his intellectual strength. His English is Bible 
English. It has been said that hardly a circumstance or meta- 



30 INTRODUCTION 

phor in the Old Testament has failed to find a place in ** Pil- 
grim's Progress/' Green says, ''So completely had the Bible 
become Bunyan's life that one feels its phrases as the natural 
expression of his thoughts. He lived in the Bible till its words 
became his own." During the period of the Restoration, 
when in court circles religion ceased to be popular and the 
Bible was out of fashion, it is significant of the widespread 
knowledge of the Bible that Dry den gave one of his severest 
court satires, ''Absalom and Achitophel," a Biblical setting. 
His characterization of the leaders of the Duke of Monmouth's 
Rebellion in the persons of Absalom, Achitophel, and Zimri 
has become historical. 

Defoe wrote with a distinctly religious purpose even when 

his stories lacked all delicacy of moral feeling. Addison's 

paraphrases of the nineteenth and twenty- third 

in 18th Psalms are perhaps more widely known than the 

Century ^'Spectator Papers" or "Cato." Cowper, the au- 
iterature ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^„ ^^^^^ 

Moves in a Mysterious Way," and other hymns, used the words 
of the Psalms to brace his endurance of torture at school, to 
voice later his despair which ended in insanity and attempted 
suicide, and then to clothe the joy of his subsequent recovery. 
Boswell defended the minuteness of his biography of Johnson 
by citing authority for interpreting "His leaf also shall not 
wither" as meaning "even the idle talk of a good man ought 
to be regarded." Burke, whose impassioned speech and splen- 
did imagery give him rank among the foremost orators of 
the world, frequently read chapters from Isaiah just before 
making a speech. Burns, like all other Scottish lads, knew 
his Bible well. Several prayers, an occasional poetic version 
of a Psalm, and numerous allusions throughout his works 
attest his familiarity. He is as much at home with the scrip- 
tures as the father in "Cotter's Saturday Night": 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 31 

^'The priest-like father reads the sacred page, 

How Abram was the friend of God on high; 

Or Moses bade eternal warfare wage 

With Amalek's ungracious progeny; 

Or how the royal Bard did groaning lie 

Beneath the stroke of Heaven's avenging ire; 

Or Job's pathetic plaint, and wailing cry; 
. Or rapt Isaiah's wild, seraphic fire; 

Or holy seers that tuned the sacred lyre." 

There are twelve other Biblical allusions in the poem. 

It is said that Byron gained considerable love and knowl- 
edge of the Bible from his Scotch nurse, and as a mere boy 
he learned many of the Psalms by heart. Later ^^ ^^^^ 
in life he wrote twenty-three ^^ Hebrew Melodies" Century 
which were based on Biblical stories. Among these ^® ^^ 

are ^^She Walks in Beauty," ^'Ol Snatched away in Beauty's 
Bloom," ^^The Destruction of Sennacherib," ^'Song of Saul," 
and other well-known lyrics. The hundreds of Biblical refer- 
ences throughout his works attest his fond familiarity with 
Biblical thought and phrase. In one of Landor's love lyrics, 
we find this: 

'^Give me the eyes that catch at last 
A few faint glimpses of the past. 
And, like the arkite dove, 
Bring back a long-lost oHve-bough, 
And can discover even now 
A heart that once could love." 

Dr. van Dyke has found more than five hundred Biblical 
references in Tennyson. What is more characteristic of 
Tennyson's imaginative bent than this from ''In Memoriam," 
which is thoroughly imbued with the poet's religious faith? 



32 INTRODUCTION 

'*Wlien Lazarus left his charnel-cave, 
And home to Mary's house returned, 
Was this demanded — if he yearn'd 
To hear her weeping by his grave?'' 

In '*A Dream of Fair Women" he meets Jephthah's daughter 
who says, 

'^How beautiful a thing it was to die 
For God and my sirel 

^^It comforts me in this one thought to dwell, 
That I subdued me to my father's will; 
Because the kiss he gave me, ere I fell. 
Sweetens the spirit still." 

In one poem alone, ^'The Ring and the Book," Browning 
has over five hundred BibHcal references and allusions. The 
hero in ^^By the Fireside" rapturously addresses his wife 
in these words: 

^* Think, when our one soul understands 
The great Word which makes all things new, 
When earth breaks up and heaven expands, 
How will the change strike me and you 
In the house not made with hands?" 

*^Saul" and ^'A Death in the Desert," both of which are 
preeminently Biblical in substance and coloring, will prob- 
ably one day be classed with ^^ Pilgrim's Progress" and ^^ Para- 
dise Lost" as classics. The refrain of KipHng's "Recessional," 
^^Lest we Forget," and several of the noblest images of the 
poem are Biblical. 

References to the Bible are so numerous in our literature 
that a complete account of them would fill volumes. Such 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 33 

quotations as those that have been given are found on every 
hand; and they come not only from reHgious writers or even 
devout men, but also from many who can hardly be thought 
of as patterns in matters of faith. Swinburne, in his poem 
**To Walt Whitman in America," says, 

'^If the God upon you be arisen, 
How should our songs be the same ? 
How in confusion of change. 
How shall we sing, in a strange 
Land, songs praising His name?" 

In an early edition of ^^Oberman Once More," Matthew 
Arnold quotes Psalm 49, 7, 

*^From David's lips this word did roll, 
'Tis true and living yet: 
No man can save his brother's soul, 
Nor pay his brother's debt. 

''Alone, self -poised, henceforward man 
Must labor; must resign 
His all too human creeds, and scan 
Simply the way divine." 

The three notable English poetesses of the last century, 
Mrs. Browning, Jean Ingelow, and Christina Rossetti, make 
frequent use of Biblical diction and imagery. In Miss Ros- 
setti's ''Mirage," we have this: 

'* I hang my harp upon a tree, 
A weeping willow in a lake; 
I hang my silenced harp there, wrung and snapt 
For a dream's sake." 



34 INTRODUCTION 

Mrs. Browning's ^' Sleep" is written on the theme of Psalm 
127, 2. Here is one stanza: 

*^His dews drop mutely on the hill, 

His cloud above it saileth still, 

Though on its slope men sow and reap. 

More softly than the dew is shed, 

Or cloud is floated overhead, 
'He giveth his beloved sleep.' '' 

In **A Drama of Exile" she has dramatized the story of the 
Fall. Professor Cook says that Jean Ingelow '^ often draws 
rich and strange harmonies from her Biblical borrowings, and 
it would be hard to say whether, in these adaptations, she 
gives or receives more." 

The novels of Sir Walter Scott give abundant evidence of 
his acquaintance with the Bible. One of the most pathetic 
scenes in '^The Heart of Midlothian" is where old Davy 
Deans bows his head in grief to see his daughter on trial for 
her life, and sobs, ^^O I-chabod! my glory is departed!" 

Carlyle and Ruskin may be taken as representative of the 
prose writers of the nineteenth century. The spirit of both 
In 19th these great teachers has been called Hebraic, be- 
Century cause they were not merely thinkers but teachers 
^^^^ of beauty, of morals, and of obUgations to society. 

"She [England] has not yet read often enough," says Ruskin 
in the chapter entitled 'Teace" in '^Modern Painters," 'Hhat 
old story of the Samaritan's mercy. He whom he saved was 
going down from Jerusalem to Jericho — to the accursed city 
(so the old church used to understand it). He should not 
have left Jerusalem; it was his own fault that he went out 
into the desert, and fell among the thieves, and was left for 
dead. Every one of these English children, in their day, took 
the decent bypath as he did, and fell among friends — took 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 35 

to making bread out of stones at their bidding, and then died, 
torn and famished; careful England, in her pure, priestly 
dress, passing by on the other side." ''Nature's laws, I must 
repeat, are eternal," says Carlyle in his ''Past and Present"; 
"her still small voice speaking from the inmost heart of us, 
shall not, imder terrible penalty, be disregarded. No one 
man can depart from the truth without damage to himself; 
no one million men; no twenty-seven millions of men. Show 
me a nation fallen everywhere into this course, so that each 
expects it, permits it to others and himself, I will show you 
a nation traveling with one assent on the broad way." Here 
is another quotation from the same: "The one thing which 
you were not to do, which you were wise not to attempt doing; 
which it were better for you to have a millstone tied aroimd 
your neck and be cast into the sea than concern yourself 
with doing!" Both these men were devoted to the Bible and 
were fond of clothing their own ideas in its words and images. 
Carlyle said that he considered the Psalms the truest emblem 
ever given of man's moral progress and warfare on earth. 
As a Scotch child intended for the ministry, he must have 
known his Bible exceptionally well. As soon as he could 
read, Ruskin read daily at his mother's knee two or three 
chapters from the Bible, much of which he was required to 
memorize. Few men have influenced their times as greatly 
as they; and the effect of the Bible on their style and their 
thoughts is almost immeasurable. 

Such is the power of the Bible among our greatest writers. 
None, it is safe to say, has failed to feel its influence and some 
have found in it both subject and style. This influence, as 
illustrated in the foregoing quotations, is shown in a number 
of ways, (i) It has preserved the simple and forceful diction 
of the plain English people. Its popularity has made it the 
standard of style for centuries, the common medium of both 



I 



36 INTRODUCTION 

the scholars and the uncultured. Through its presence we 
have steered successfully between over-refinement and vul- 
garity; and have preserved the purity of our speech against 
such affectations as the ^^Euphues'' of Lyly, the ponderous 
Latin diction of Johnson, or the lawless style of Carlyle. (2) 
It has enriched our every-day speech with a large number of 
its phrases. Such expressions as ^Hhe pride of life/' *^valley 
of decision,'^ ^^better than riches/' ^^trodden the wine-press 
alone/' ^^the powers that be/' ^^mantle of Elijah/' ^Hhe widow's 
mite/' ^^a thorn in the flesh/' and hundreds of others are the 
common coin of our daily speech. They lie on the surface 
of our vocabulary and leap to our tongues without effort. 

(3) Our writers are so familiar with Biblical events, truths, 
and characters that quotations or paraphrases of scripture and 
explicit references to Biblical facts are exceedingly common. 

(4) Many works among the noblest in literature, besides others 
genuinely great, are Biblical in theme and spirit. The poems 
of Milton, Peele, and Browning, and the prose, works of Bun- 
yan have already been mentioned. Among others going back 
to the Bible for subject matter, Longfellow's ^^Christus," 
Stephen Phillips' ^^Herod," and Wallace's ^^Ben Hur" are 
well-known books of the last generation. 

Greater than all these influences, of course, is the power of 
the Bible to reinvigorate the souls of men. Everywhere men 
are seekers after righteousness, without which there can be 
no truly happy life; and the Bible embodies and brings to them 
the noblest aspirations and the highest of human yearnings. 
Because it has this personal message of purity, of ideal love 
to man's innermost life, because it nourishes and inspires his 
heartfelt longings, it gives tone to his thoughts and motive 
to his deeds. Thus for centuries it has shaped his mind and 
colored his imagination till every form of his life and art has 
incorporated some of its beauty and power. The ideals of 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 37 

our civic and social as well as our moral life are Biblical. 
During the Christian era the Bible has inspired more master- 
pieces of oratory, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture 
than any other influence. Not one ramification of our complex 
life and thought has failed to respond to its appeal; and just 
so long as literature expresses these intimate things of life, 
high aspirations, pure motives, noble ideals, deep yearnings 
of soul, will the Bible wield its invigorating power in our life 
and literature. Apart from its significance in art and civiliza- 
tion, its glorious wealth of story and song and truth, its mar- 
velous power for good and for culture, so great has been the 
power of the Bible in English thought and style that a familiar- 
ity with it is not only worth while but absolutely necessary 
to enable one to read English literature intelligently. 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

THE CREATION 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And 
the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon 
the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved First 

upon the face of the waters. And God said, "Let ^^y 

there be light": and there was light. And God saw the Ught, 
that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called 
Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 

And God said, ^^Let there be a firmament in the midst of 
the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." And 
God made the firmament and divided the waters Second 
which were under the firmament from the waters ^^y 

which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God 
called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morn- 
ing were the second day. 

And God said, '^ Let the waters under the heaven be gathered 
together unto one place, and let the dry land appear": and it 
was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and Third 

the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: ^^y 

and God saw that it was good. And God said, *^Let the earth 
bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree 
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the 
earth": and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and 
herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, 
whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it 
was good. And the evening and the morning were the third 
day. 

39 



40 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And God said, ^^Let there be lights in the firmament of the 
heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for 
Fourth signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 
^^y and let them be for lights in the firmament of the 

heaven to give Kght upon the earth '^ and it was so. And God 
made two great lights; the greater hght to rule the day, and the 
lesser hght to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God 
set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the 
earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide 
the hght from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 

And God said, ^'Let the waters bring forth abundantly the 
moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above 
Fifth the earth in the open firmament of heaven." And 

^^y God created great whales, and every living creature 

that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after 
their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God 
saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, '*Be 
fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let 
fowl multiply in the earth.'' And the evening and the morning 
were the fifth day. 

And God said, ^'Let the earth bring forth the living creature 
after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth 
Sixth after his kind'' : and it was so. And God made the 

^^y beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after 

their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after 
his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, 
'^Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let 
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl 
of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over 
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." So God 
created man in his own image, in the image of God created he 
him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, 



THE CREATION 41 

and God said unto them, ''Be fruitful, and multiply, and re- 
plenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the 
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every 
living thing that moveth upon the earth." And God said, 
''Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is 
upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is 
the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, 
and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there 
is life, I have given every green herb for meat": and it was so. 
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was 
very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the 
host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work 
which he had made; and he rested on the seventh Seventh 
day from all his work which he had made. And ^^y 

God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in 
it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth 
when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the 
earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it 
was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew : for 
the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there 
was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist 
from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And 
the Lord God formed man of the cfust of the ground, and 
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became 
a living soul. • 

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and 
there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the 
ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that The Garden 
is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree ^^ ^^^^ 
of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge 



42 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the 
garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four 
heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which com- 
passeth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the 
gold of that land is good: there is bdeUium and the onyx stone. 
And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that 
compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the 
third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east 
of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden 
of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God com- 
manded the man, saying, ^'Of every tree of the garden thou 
mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and 
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest 
thereof thou shalt surely die.'' 

And the Lord God said, ^*It is not good that the man should 
be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." And out 
of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of 
the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought 
them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and what- 
soever Adam called every living creature, that was the name 
thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl 
of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there 
was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused 
a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept : and he took one 
of his ribs, and closed up the*flesh instead thereof; and the rib, 
which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, 
and brought her unto the man. And 4dam said, ^'This is 
now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be 
called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore 
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave 
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.'' And they were 
both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 



THE CREATION 43 

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field 
which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, 
'*Yea, hath God said, 'Ye shall not eat of every The 

tree of the garden/ '' And the woman said unto ^^^^ 

the serpent, *' We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 
but of the fruit of the l^ee which is in the midst of the garden, 
God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch 
it, lest ye die.' " And the serpent said unto the woman, ''Ye 
shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye 
eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be 
as gods, knowing good and evil.'' And when the woman 
saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant 
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she 
took the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her 
husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them 
both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and 
they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the 
garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid 
themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the 
trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, 
and said unto him, "Where art thou?" And he said, "I 
heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I 
was naked; and I hid myself." And he said, "Who told thee 
that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof 
I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" And the 
man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, 
she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." And the Lord God 
said unto the woman, "What is this that thou hast done ?" 
And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did 
eat." 

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, "Because thou 
hast done this, thou art cursed above all catde, and above 



44 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust 
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity 
The between thee and the woman, and between thy seed 

Curse ^j^(j jier seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou 

shalt bruise his heel/' Unto the woman he said, ^^I will 
greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow 
thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy 
husband, and he shall rule over thee." And unto Adam he 
said, ^'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice' of thy 
wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, 
saying, ^Thou shalt not eat of it': cursed is the ground for 
thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 
thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou 
shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt 
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it 
wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou 
return." And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she 
was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife 
did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 

And the Lord God said, '^Behold, the man is become as 
one of us, to know good and evil": and now, lest he put forth 
Driven ^^^ hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, 
from and live for ever: therefore the Lord God sent him 

®^ forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground 

from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he 
placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a 
flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of 
the tree of life. 

Cain and Abel 

And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of 
the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that 
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the 



THE CREATION 45 

Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock 
and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel 
and to his offering : but unto Cain and to his offer- jj^^ 

ing he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, First 

and his countenance fell. And the Lord said ^ ®^ 

unto Cain, **Why art thou wroth? and why is thy counte- 
nance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? 
and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door: and unto 
thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.'^ And 
Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when 
they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his 
brother, and slew him. 

And the Lord said unto Cain, ^^ Where is Abel thy brother ? " 
And he said, " I know not : Am I my brother's keeper ? " And 
he said, ''What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's 
blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou 
cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive 
thy brother's blood from thy hands. When thou tillest the 
ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; 
a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." 

And Cain said unto the Lord, ''My punishment is greater 
than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day 
from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; 
and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it 
shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay 
me." And the Lord said imto him, "Therefore whosoever 
slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." 
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him 
should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of 
the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 

[Gen. i-iii; iv, 2-16.] 



46 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 



THE FLOOD 



And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the 
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 
was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had 
made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the 
Lord said, * ^ I will destroy man whom I have created from the face 
of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and 
the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.'* 

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And God 
said unto Noah, ''The end of all flesh is come before me; for 
The the earth is filled with violence through them; and, 

^^ behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make 

thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the 
ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this 
is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the 
ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, 
and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make 
to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the 
door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lovv^er, 
second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, 
I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy 
all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and 
every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will 
I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, 
and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And 
of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou 
bring into the ark, to keep them ahve with thee; they shall be 
male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after 
their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, 
two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou 
shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for 



THE FLOOD 47 

them.'' Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded 
him, so did he. 

And the Lord said unto Noah, '* Come thou and all thy house 
into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this 
generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by 
sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not 
clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the 
air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon 
the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause 
it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every 
living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the 
face of the earth." And Noah did according unto all that the 
Lord commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old 
when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' 
wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, 
and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, there went in 
two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, 
as God had commanded Noah. 

And it came to pass after seven dayS; that the waters of the 
flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's 
life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of The 

the month, the same day were all the fountains of ^^^ 

the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were 
opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and 
forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and 
Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and 
the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; they, and 
every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, 
and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after 
his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 
And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all 



48 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, 
went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded 
him; and the Lord shut him in. 

And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters 
increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the 
earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly 
upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all 
the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 
Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the moun- 
tains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the 
earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every 
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man : all 
in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the 
dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which 
was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the 
creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were 
destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and 
they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed 
upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. 

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all 
the cattle that was with him in the ark : and God made a wind 
The Rain to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged. The 
Ceases fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven 

were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. 
And the waters returned from off the earth continually: 
and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were 
abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the sev- 
enteenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in 
the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops 
of the mountains seen. 

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah 



THE FLOOD 49 

opened the window of the ark which he had made: and he sent 
forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were 
dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a Raven 

dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from and Dove 
off the face of the ground. But the dove found no ^^ 
rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into 
the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. 
Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto 
him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days ; and again 
he sent forth a dove out of the ark. And the dove came in to 
him in the evening, and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf 
plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from 
off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth 
the dove, which returned not again unto him any more. 

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, 
in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were 
dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed "^o^h 

the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold. Leaves 

the face of the ground was dry. And in the second 
month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was 
the earth dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, ''Go 
forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy 
sons^ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every Hving 
thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, 
and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; 
that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, 
and multiply upon the earth." And Noah went forth, and 
his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: every beast, 
every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth 
upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. 

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of 
every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt 
offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; 



50* OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and the Lord said in his heart, **I will not again curse the 
ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's 
heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any 
more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth 
remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and sum- 
mer and winter, and day and night shall not cease/' 

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, say- 
ing, '*And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and 
The with your seed after you; and with every living 

Rainbow creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, 
and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out 
of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will estabhsh 
my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut oflF any 
more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more 
be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said, '^This is 
the token of the covenant which I make between me and you, 
and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual gen- 
erations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a 
token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall 
come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the 
bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my 
covenant, which is between me and you and every living 
creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a 
flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; 
and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting 
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh 
that is upon the earth." And God said unto Noah, ^'This 
is the token of the covenant, which I have established between 
me and all flesh that is upon the earth." 

[Gen. vi, 5-8, 13-22; vii; viii; ix, 8-17.] 



THE TOWER OF BABEL 51 

THE TOWER OF BABEL 

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that 
they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 
And they said one to another, ^'Go to, let us make brick, 
and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, 
and slime had they for mortar. And they said, *^Go to, let 
us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach imto 
heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad 
upon the face of the whole earth." 

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, 
which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, ** Be- 
hold, the people is one, and they have all one .pj^^ q^^^ 
language; and this they begin to do: and now fusion of 
nothing will be restrained from them, which they ongues 
have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there con- 
found their language, that they may not imderstand one 
another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from 
thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left oflF to 
build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; 
because the Lord did there confound the language of all 
the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad 
upon the face of all the earth. 



[Gen. xi, 1-9.] 



152 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

ABRAHAM 

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran 

his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's 

_ , wife ; and they went forth with them from Ur of 

Terah "^ . 

the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and 

they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of 

Terah were two hundred and five years : and Terah died in 

Haran. 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, '^Get thee out of thy 
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, 
God^s unto a land that I will shew thee : and I will make 

Promise Qf ^j^gg ^ great nation, and I will bless thee, and 
make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I 
will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth 
thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." 
So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and 
Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years 
old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai 
his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance 
that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten 
in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; 
'and into the land of Canaan they came. 

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, 
unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in 
Soiourn ^^ land. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, 
in and said, '^Unto thy seed will I give this land": 

^^^ and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who 

appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a 
mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having 
Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded 
an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. 
And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And 



ABRAHAM 53 

there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into 
Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the 
land. 

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into 
Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, ''Behold now,: I know 
that thou art a fair woman to look upon : therefore it shall come 
to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, 
' This is his wife ' : and they will kill me, but they will save thee 
alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well 
with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.'' 
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, 
the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The 
princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before 
Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 
And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, 
and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants^ 
and she asses, and camels. 

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great 
plagues because of Sarai, Abram' s wife. And Pharaoh called 
Abram, and said, ''What is this that thou hast done unto me? 
Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife ? Why saidst 
thou, 'She is my sister'? so I might have taken her to me to 
wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way." 
And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they 
sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. 

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all 
that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram 
was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And j^^^ 

he went on his journeys from the south even to Leaves 

Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at ra am 

the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai; unto the place of the 
altar, which he had made there at the first : and there Abram 
called on the name of the Lord. And Lot also, which went 



64 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

With Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land 
was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for 
their substance was great so that they could not dwell together. 
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram' s cattle 
and the herdmen of Lot's cattle : and the Canaanite and the Periz- 
zite dwelt then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, ^^Let 
there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between 
my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the 
whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: 
if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if 
thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.'' 

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, 
that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed 
Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like 
the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose 
him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they 
separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelt in 
the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, 
and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom 
were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. 

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated 
from him, ^^Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place 
where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and 
westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give 
it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the 
dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the 
earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk 
through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; 
for I will give it unto thee." Then Abram removed his tent, 
and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, 
and built there an altar unto the Lord. 

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, 
Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal 



ABRAHAM 55 

king of nations; that these made war with Bera king of Sodom, 
and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, 
and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which 
is Zoar. And they joined battle with them in the vale of 
Siddim. And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and 
the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they 
that remained fled to the mountain. And they took all the 
goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went 
their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who 
dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 

And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the 
Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother 
of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were con- Abram 

federate with Abram. And when Abram heard that Saves 

his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained ^ 

servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, 
and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against 
diem, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pur- 
sued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his 
brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return 
from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings that were 
with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: 
and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed 
him, and said, ^'Blessed be Abram of the most high God, 
possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high 
God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." 
And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto 
Abram, ^'Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.'' 
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, ''I have lifted up mine 
hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven 



56 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe- 
latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou 
shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: save only that which 
the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which 
went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their 
portion.'' 

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram, 
in a vision, saying, ''Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and 
Abram^s thy exceeding great reward." And Abram said, 
Vision ^'Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go 

childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damas- 
cus?'' And Abram said, ''Behold, to me thou hast given 
no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir." And, 
behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, "This 
shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of 
thine own bowels shall be thine heir." And he brought him 
forth abroad, and said, "Look now toward heaven, and tell 
the stars, if thou be able to number them." And he said 
unto him, "So shall thy seed be." And he believed in the 
Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon 
Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 
And he said unto Abram, "Know of a surety that thy seed 
shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve 
them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also 
that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward 
shall they come out with great substance." In the same day 
the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "Unto thy 
seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the 
great river, the river Euphrates." 

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she 
had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 
And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid, the Egy{>- 



I 



ABRAHAM 57 

tian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, 

and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And 

Haerar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his 

Ishmael 
son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And 

Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare 

Ishmael to Abram. 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord 

appeared to Abram, and said unto him, ''I am the Almighty 

God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And ,, , 
X Ml 1 1 11 Abraham 

I will make my covenant between me and thee, 

and will multiply thee exceedingly.'' And Abram fell on his 

face: and God talked with him, saying, ^*As for me, behold, 

my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many 

nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, 

but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations 

have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, 

and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of 

thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, 

the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, 

for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." And 

God said unto Abraham, '^Thou shalt keep my covenant 

therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and 

you and thy seed after thee; every man child among you shall 

be circumcised." 

And God said unto Abraham, ^^ As for Sarai thy wife, thou 

shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of 

Sarah 
her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a 

mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her." And 

Abraham said unto God, ''O that Ishmael might live before 

thee!" And God said, ^' Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a 

son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will 



58 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, 
and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have 
Isaac heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will 

Promised make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceed- 
ingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a 
great nation. But my covenant will I estabUsh with 
Isaac." 

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: 
and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he 
lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: 
and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent 
door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, *'My 
Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, 
I pray thee, from thy servant: let a little water, I pray you, 
be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under 
the tree: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye 
your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye 
come to your servant." And they said, 'So do, as thou hast 
said." And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and 
said, ^^Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead 
it, and make cakes upon the hearth." And Abraham ran 
unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave 
it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took 
butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set 
it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they 
did eat. 

And they said unto him, '* Where is Sarah thy wife?" And 
he said, '^Behold, in the tent." And he said, ^^Lo, Sarah 
thy wife shall have a son." 

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: 
and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And 
the Lord said, *^ Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which 
I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and 



ABRAHAM 59 

mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed 
in him ? For I know him, that he will command his children 
and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of 
the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring 
upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.'' And the 
Lord said, ^^ Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, 
and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now, 
and see whether they have done altogether according to the 
cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.'' 
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward 
Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. 

And Abraham drew near and said, ^'Wilt thou also destroy 
the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty 
righteous within the city: wilt- thou also destroy Abraham 
and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that Prays 

are therein? That be far from thee to do after ^^^ ^odom 
this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that 
the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: 
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 

And the Lord said, ^^If I find in Sodom fifty righteous 
within the city, then I will spare all the city for their sakes." 

And Abraham answered and said, ** Behold now, I have taken 
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt 
thou destroy all the city for lack of five" ? And he said, ^^If I 
find there forty and five, I will not destroy it." 

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, ^Teradventure 
there shall be forty found there." And he said, ^^I will not do 
it for forty's sake." 

And he said unto him, ^^ Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I 
will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be foimd there." 
And he said, ^^I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 

And he said, ** Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak 



60 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

unto the Lord : Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.'' 
And he said, ''I will not destroy it for twenty's sake." 
; And he said, ' ' Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak 
yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.'' And 
he said, ^^I will not destroy it for ten's sake." And the Lord 
went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: 
and Abraham returned unto his place. 

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat 
in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet 
them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 
and he said, ^^ Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into 
your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, 
and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways." And they 
said, ''Nay; but we will abide in the street all night." And he 
pressed upon them greatly ; and they turned in unto him, and 
entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake 
unleavened bread, and they did eat. 

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men 
of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, 
all the people from every quarter: and they called unto Lot, 
and said unto him, ''Where are the men which came in to thee 
this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them." 
And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door 
after him, and said, "I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 
Unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the 
shadow of my roof." 

And they said, "Stand back." And they said again, "This 
one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge. 
Lot Now will we deal worse with thee, than with them." 

Warned ^^id they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and 
came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, 
and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 
And they smote the men that w^ere at the door of the house with 



ABRAHAM 61 

blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves 
to find the door. 

And the men said unto Lot, ''Hast thou any here besides? 
Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever 
thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will 
destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great 
before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy 
it." And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which 
married his. daughters, and said, ''Up, get you out of this place; 
for the Lord will destroy this city." But he seemed as one that 
mocked unto his sons in law. 

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, 
saying, "Arise, Take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which 
are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city." 
And while he Hngered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and 
upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two 
daughters ; the Lord being merciful unto him : and they brought 
him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, 
when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, 
"Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in 
all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." 
And Lot said unto them, "Oh, not so, my Lord: behold now, 
thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast mag- 
nified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving 
my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil 
take me, and I die: behold now, this city is near to flee unto, 
and it is a Httle one: O, let me escape thither, (is it not a little 
one?) and my soul shall live." And he said unto him, "See, I 
have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not 
overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, 
escape thither; for 1 cannot do any thing till thou be come 
thither." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into 



62 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah 
brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven ; and he over- 
Sodom and ^^^^^ those cities, and all the plain, and all the in- 
Gomorrah habitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the 

®^ ^y® ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, 
and she became a pillar of salt. 

And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where 
he stood before the Lord: and he looked toward Sodom and 
Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, 
and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a 
furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities 
of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot 
out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities 
in the which Lot dwelt. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and 
dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he 
feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two 
daughters. 

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did 
unto Sarah as he had spoken. And Abraham called the name 

Birth ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^™' whom Sarah 

of bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham was a hun- 

saac j^^^ years old when his son Isaac was bom unto 

him. And the child grew, and was weaned : and Abraham made 
a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she 
had bom unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto 
Abraham, ^^Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son 
of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with 
Isaac." And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight 
because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, **Let it not 
be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy 
bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken 
unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also 



ABRAHAM 63 

of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he 

is thy seed." 

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, 

and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on 

her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: 

and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness Hagar and 

. ^ _ , . , , . . Ishmael 

of Beer-sheba. And the water was spent m the Sent Away 

bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way 

off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, ''Let me not see the 

death of the child.'' And she sat over against him, and lifted 

up her voice, and wept. 

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God 
called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, ''What 
aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice 
of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him 
in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." And 
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she 
went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. 
And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the 
wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the 
wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of 
the land of Egypt. 

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt 
Abraham, and said unto him, "Abraham." And he said, 
"Behold, here I am." And he said, "Take now thy son, 
thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into 
the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering 
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." 

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled 
his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac 
his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, 
and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then 



64 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place 
afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, ^' Abide ye 
jj^g here with the ass ; and I and the lad will go yon- 

Sacrifice der and worship, and come again to you.'' And 

saac Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, 
and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his 
hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, '^My 
father." And he said, ^'Here am I, my son." And he said, 
*' Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a 
burnt offering?" And Abraham said, ''My son, God will 
provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." So they went 
both of them together. And they came to the place which 
God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and 
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid 
him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched 
forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the 
angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, 
''Abraham, Abraham." And he said, "Here am I." And 
he said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou 
any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, 
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." 
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold 
behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns : and Abra- 
ham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt 
offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name 
of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, "In the 
mount of the Lord it shall be seen." 

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of 
heaven the second time, and said, " By myself have I sworn, 
saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and 
hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing 

1 will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as 



ABRAHAM 65 

the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the 
sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 
and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 
because thou hast obeyed my voice.'' So Abraham returned 
unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to 
Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: 
these were years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Klir- 
jath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Sarah 

Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, Is 

and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up Buried 

from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 
*^I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a pos- 
session of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead 
out of my sight." And the children of Heth answered Abra- 
ham, saying unto him, '^Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty 
prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy 
dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but 
that thou mayest bury thy dead. " 

And Abraham stood up, and bowed himseK to the people 
of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed 
with them, saying, ^^If it be your mind that I should bury 
my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat from me to 
Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of 
Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; 
for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a pos- 
session of a buryingplace amongst you." And Ephron an- 
swered Abraham, saying unto him, ^^ My lord, hearken unto 
me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what 
is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead." And 
Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver. 

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave 
of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron 



66 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is 
therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a 
. buryingplace by the sons of Heth. 

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the 
Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said 
unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that 
he had, '^Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and 
I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and 
the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto 
my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I 
dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, 
and take a wife imto my son Isaac." 

And the servant said unto him, ^ ^ Peradventure the woman 
will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs 
bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?" 
And Abraham said unto him, ^^ Beware thou that thou bring not 
my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven, which took 
me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, 
and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying. 
Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel 
before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from 
thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, 
then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not 
my son thither again.'' And the servant put his hand under 
the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concern- 
ing that matter. 

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, 
and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: 
and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 
And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a 
well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that 
women go out to draw water. And he said, ^^O Lord God of 
my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, 



! 



ABRAHAM 67 

and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand 
here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the 
city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the 
damsel to whom I shall say, ' Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, 
that I may drink' ; and she shall say, ' Drink, and I will give 
thy camels drink also': let the same be she that thou hast 
appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that 
thou hast shewed kindness unto my master." 

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, 
behold, Rebekah came out, who was bom to Bethuel, son of 
Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, Rebekah 
with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel at the 

was very fair to look upon, a virgin, and she went ® 

down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the 
servant ran to meet her, and said, ''Let me, I pray thee, drink 
a Httle water of thy pitcher." And she said, ' ' Drink, my lord" : 
and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and 
gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she 
said, '' I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done 
drinking." And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the 
trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water , and drew for all 
his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to 
wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that 
the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two 
bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; and said, 
''Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room 
in thy father's house for us to lodge in?" And she said 
unto him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, 
which she bare unto Nahor." She said moreover unto him, 
"We have both straw and provender enough, and room to 
lodge in." And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped 
the Lord. And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my 



68 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his 

mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the 

house of my master's brethren. '^ 

And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house 

these things. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was 

., , . Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the 
Abraham's „ * i • i i i • 

Servant well. And it came to pass, when he saw the earrmg 

W^^l. , and bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he 
Received 

heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, 

^^Thus spake the man unto me"; that he came unto the man; 
and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, 
**Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standestthou 
without ? for I have prepared the house, and room for the cam- 
els." And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his 
camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water 
to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. And 
there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, '^I will not 
eat, until I have told mine errand." And he said, ^' Speak on." 
And he said, ^^I am Abraham's servant. And the Lord hath 
blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath 
given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men- 
servants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. And Sarah 
my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: 
and unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my master 
made me swear, saying, ' Thou shalt not take a wife to my son 
of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: but 
thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and 
take a wife unto my son.' And I said unto my master, ^Per- 
adventure the woman will not follow.' And he said unto me, 
* The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, 
and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of 
my kindred, and of my father's house: then shalt thou be clear 
from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if 



ABRAHAM 69 

they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath/ And 
I came this day unto the well, and said, ^O Lord God of my 
master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: 
behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, 
that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to 
her, ''Give me, I pray thee, a Uttle water of thy pitcher to 
drink"; and she say to me, ''Both drink thou, and I will also 
draw for thy camels": let the same be the woman whom the 
Lord hath appointed out for my master's son.' And before 
I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came 
forth with her pitcher on her shoulder ; and she went down unto 
the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, 'Let me drink, 
I pray thee.' And she made haste, and let down her pitcher 
from her shoulder, and said, ' Drink, and I will give thy camels 
drink also': so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 
And I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter art thou' ? And 
she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah 
bare unto him.' And I put the earring upon her face, and the 
bracelets upon her hands. And I bowed dovm my head, and 
worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master 
Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's 
brother's daughter unto his son. And now if ye will deal kindly 
and truly with my master, tell me : and if not, tell me ; that I may 
turn to the right hand, or to the left." 

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing 
proceedeth from the Lord. We cannot speak unto thee bad 
or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, 
and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken." 

And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard 
their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the 
earth. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and 
jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He 
gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. And 



70 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, 

and tarried all night. 

And they rose up in the morning, and he said, ^^Send me 

away unto my master." And her brother and her mother said, 

^'Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the 

Goes with l^^^st ten; after that she shall go." And he said 

Abraham's ^^to them, ''Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath 
Servant , , , ^ 

prospered my way; send me away that I may go 

to my master." And they said, ''We will call the damsel, and 

enquire at her mouth." And they called Rebekah, and said 

unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?" And she said, "I 

will go." And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her 

nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed 

Rebekah, and said unto her, "Thou art our sister, be thou the 

mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the 

gate of those which hate them." 

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon 
the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took 
Rebekah, and went his way. 

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for 
he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went out to medi- 
tate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, 
and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah 
lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off 
the camel. For she had said unto the servant, "What man 
is this that walketh in the field to meet us?" And the ser- 
vant had said, "It is my master": therefore she took a vail, 
and covered herseK. 

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had 
done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's 
tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and 
he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's 
death. 



ABRAHAM 71 

Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Ketu- 
rah. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. And 
these are the days of the years of Abraham's life Death 

which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen of 

years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and ^^ ^^ 
died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was 
gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael 
buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron 
the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; the field 
which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was 
Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 



[Gen. xi, 31, 32; xii-xiv, 2; xiv, 8-10; xv, 1-6, 12-14, 18; 

xvi, I, 3, 15, 16; xvii, 1-6, 8-1 1, 15-21; xviii, i-io, 

16-33; xix, 1-30; xxi, 1-3, 5, 8-21; xxii, 1-19; xxiii, 

1-9, 14-16, 19, 20; xxiv; XXV, I, 5, 7-10.] 



72 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

JACOB 

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a 
man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in 
tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his veni- 
son: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came through the field, 
and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, *^Feed me, I pray 
Esau ^tt, with that same red pottage; for I am faint": 

Sells His therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob 
Birthright said, ^^Sell me this day thy birthright.'' And Esau 
said, ^^ Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit will 
this birthright do to me?" And Jacob said, ^' Swear to me 
this day''; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright 
unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of 
lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went 
his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. 

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes 
were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest 
son, and said unto him, ^^My son": and he said unto him, 
*^ Behold, here am I." And he said, *^ Behold now, I am old, 
I know not the day of my death: now therefore take, I pray 
thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to 
the field, and take me some venison; and make me savoury 
meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that 
my soul may bless thee before I die." 

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. 
And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring 
it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, say- 
Plans to ing, ^^ Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau 
Deceive thy brother, saying, ^ Bring me venison, and make 
me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee 
before the Lord before my death.' Now therefore, my son, 
obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 



JACOB 73 

Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good 
kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy 
father, such as he loveth : and thou shalt bring it to thy father, 
that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. ' ' 

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, ^^ Behold, Esau 
my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: my 
father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as 
a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a bless- 
ing." And his mother said unto him, ^'Upon me be thy curse, 
my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.'' And he 
went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his 
mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, 
which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob 
her younger son: and she put the skins of the kids of the 
goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: and 
she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had 
prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came 
unto his father, and said, ^^My father": and he said, ^'Here 
am I." ^^Who art thou, my son?" And Jacob said unto his 
father, ^^I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou 
badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that 
thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said unto his son, ^^How 
is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?" And he 
said, *^ Because the Lord thy God brought it to me." 

And Isaac said unto Jacob, ''Come near, I pray thee, that 
I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau 
or not." And Jacob went near unto Isaac his Isaac 

father; and he felt him, and said, ''The voice is Blesses 
Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of •'^^^ 

Esau." And he discerned him not, because his hands were 
hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And 
he said, "Art thou my very son Esau?" And he said, "I 



74 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

am/' And he said, ^^ Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my 
son's venison, that my soul may bless thee." And he brought 
it near to him, and he did eat: and he^brought him wine, 
and he drank. 

And his father Isaac said unto him, 'Xome near now, 
and kiss me, my son." And he came near, and kissed him: 
and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, 
and said, ^^See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field 
which the Lord has blessed: therefore God give thee of the 
dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of 
corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down 
to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's son 
bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, 
and blessed be he that blesseth thee." 

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of 
blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the 
presence of Isaac his father, that Esau came in from his hunting. 
And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his 
father, and said unto his father, ''Let my father arise, and eat 
of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac 
his father said unto him, ''Who art thou?" And he said, "I 
am thy son, thy firstborn Esau." And Isaac trembled very 
exceedingly, and said, "Who? where is he that hath taken 
venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou 
camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed." 

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with 
an exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, "Bless me, 
even me also, O my father." And he said, "Thy brother came 
with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing." And he said, 
"Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me 
these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, 
now he hath taken away my blessing." And he said, "Hast 
thou not reserved a blessing for me ?" And Isaac answered and 



JACOB 75 

said unto Esau, ^^ Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all 
his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn 
and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto 
thee, my son ? " And Esau said unto his father, ^ ^ Hast thou but 
one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father/' 
And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father 
answered and said unto him, ^^ Behold, thy dwelling shall be 
the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the heaven from 
above; and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy 
brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the 
dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck/' 

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his 
father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, ^^The days of 
mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother 
Jacob." And these words of Esau her elder son were told to 
Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and 
said unto him, ^^ Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, 
doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, 
my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my 
brother to Haran; and tarry with him a few days, until thy 
brother's fury turn away; until thy brother's anger turn away 
from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: 
then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be 
deprived also of you both in one day?" 

And Rebekah said to Isaac, *^I am weary of my life because 
of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters 
of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, 
what good shall my life do me?" 

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, 
and said unto him, '^ Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters 
of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house Jacob 

of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a ^^®^^ 

wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's 



76 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, 
and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 
and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed 
with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a 
stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.'' And Isaac sent away 
Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel 
the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him 
away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence ; and that 
as he blessed him he gave him the charge, saying, ^'Thou shalt 
not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan"; and that Jacob 
obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan- 
aram; and Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased 
not Isaac his father; then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took 
unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael 
Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward 
Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there 
Jacob 3.11 night, because the sun was set; and he took of the 

Dreams stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and 
lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a 
ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: 
and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, ^^I am the 
Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the 
land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 
and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt 
spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, 
and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the 
families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with 
thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and 
will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, 
until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." 



JACOB 77 

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely 
the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not." And he was 
afraid, and said, ''How dreadful is this place! this is none 
other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the 
stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, 
and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name 
of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called 
Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ''If God 
will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and 
will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I 
come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the 
Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, 
shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I 
will surely give the tenth unto thee." 

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of 
the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the 
field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for 
out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone 
was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks 
gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, 
and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the 
well's mouth in his place. 

And Jacob said unto them, "My brethren, whence be ye?" 
And they said, "Of Haran are we." And he said unto them, 
"Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We 
know him." And he said unto him, "Is he well?" And they 
said, "He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh 
with the sheep." And he said, "Lo, it is yet high day, neither 
is|it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water 
ye the sheep, and go and feed them." And they said, "We 
cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they 
roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep." 



78 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her 
father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when 
Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, 
and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went 
near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth; and watered 
the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed 
Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told 
Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was 
Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob 
his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and 
Laban kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he 

Receives told Laban all these things. And Laban said to 
•'^^^ him, ^^ Surely thou art my bone and my flesh." And 

he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto 
Jacob, ^'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore 
serve me for naught ? tell me, what shall thy wages be ? " And 
Laban had two daughters : the name of the elder was Leah, and 
the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; 
but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved 
Rachel; and said, '^I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy 
younger daughter." And Laban said, ^'It is better that I give 
her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide 
with me." And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they 
seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 

And Jacob said unto Laban, ^^Give me my wife, for my 
days are fulfilled." And Laban gathered together all the men 
of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the 
evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to 
him. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his 
maid for an handmaid. And he said to Laban, ^^What is this 
thou hast done unto me ? did not I serve with thee for Rachel ? 
wherefore then didst thou beguile me?" And Laban said, 



JACOB 79 

**It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger 
before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee 
this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet 
seven other years." And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: 
and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban 
gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her 
maid. And he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served 
with him yet seven other years. 

And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that 
Jacob said unto Laban, ^'Send me away, that I may go unto 
mine own place, and to my country. Give me my 
wives and my children, for whom I have served Bargains 
thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service ^^^ 

which I have done thee." And Laban said unto 
him, ^^I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: 
for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed 
me for thy sake." And he said, ^^ Appoint me thy wages, 
and I will give it." And he said unto him, ^^Thou knowest 
how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 
For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is 
now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath 
blessed thee since my coming: and now, when shall I pro- 
vide for mine own house also?" And he said, ^^What shall 
I give thee?" And Jacob said, ^^Thou shalt not give me 
any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed 
and keep thy flock. I will pass through all thy flock to-day, 
removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and 
all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and 
speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. So 
shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when 
it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not 
speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the 
sheep, that shall be coimted stolen with me." And Laban 



80 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

said, '* Behold, I would it might be according to thy 
word.'' 

And he removed that day the he goats that were ring- 
streaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled 
and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all 
the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of 
his sons. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and 
Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And the 
man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid- 
servants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. 

And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob 
hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that 
Tacob which was our father's hath he gotten all this 

Leaves glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of 

^ ^^ Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as 

before. And the Lord said unto Jacob, *' Return unto the land 
of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee." 
And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the held unto 
his flock, and said unto them, ^'I see your father's countenance, 
that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath 
been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have 
served your father. And your father hath deceived me, and 
changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt 
me. If he said thus, 'The speckled shall be thy wages'; then 
all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, 'The ring- 
streaked shall be thy hire' ; then bare all the cattle ringstreaked. 
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given 
them to me. And the angel of God spake unto me in a 
dream, saying, 'I am the God of Beth-el, where thou 
anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: 
now arise, get thee out from this land, and return imto the 
land of thy kindred.' " 

And Rachel and Leah answered and said imto him, *^Is 



JACOB 81 

there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's 
house ? Are we not counted of him strangers ? for he hath sold 
us, and hath quite devoured also our money. For all the riches 
which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our 
children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, 
do." 

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon 
camels; and he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods 
which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had 
gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land 
of Canaan. And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel 
had stolen the images that were her father's. And Jacob stole 
away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not 
that he fled. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up 
and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount 
Gilead. 

And it was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob was fled. 
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven 
days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and 
said imto him, ^^Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either 
good or bad." 

Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his 
tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in 
the mount of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, Laban 

*' What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away Pursues 
unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, Jacob 

as captives taken with the sword ? Wherefore didst thou flee 
away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell 
me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with 
songs, with tabret, and with harp? And hast not suffered 
me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done 
foolishly in so doing. It is in the power of my hand to 



82 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me 
yesternight, saying, ^Take thou heed that thou speak not to 
Jacob either good or bad.' And now, though thou wouldest 
needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's 
house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?" 

And Jacob answered and said unto Laban, ^^ Because I was 
afraid: for I said, ^ Peradventure thou wouldest take by force 
thy daughters from me.' With whomsoever thou findest thy 
gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what 
is thine with me, and take it to thee." For Jacob knew not 
that Rachel had stolen them. 

And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, 
and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. 
Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's 
tent. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the 
camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched 
all the tent, but found them not. 

And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob 
answered and said to Laban, *^What is my trespass? what is 
my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? Whereas 
thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all 
thy househqld stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy 
brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. This twenty 
years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have 
not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not 
eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; 
I bare the loss of it ; of my hand didst thou require it, whether 
stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the 
drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep 
departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in 
thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, 
and six years for thy cattle; and thou hast changed my wages 
ten times. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, 



JACOB ' 83 

and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst 
sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and 
the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.'' 

And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, ^' These daughters 
are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these 
cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine : and what can 
I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children 
which they have borne ? Now therefore come thou, let us make 
a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between rne 
and thee." 

And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And 
Jacob said unto his brethren, ^'Gather stones"; and they took 
stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. 
And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha : but Jacob called it Galeed. 

And Laban said, ^^This heap is a witness between me and 
thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed. And 
Mizpah; for he said, ^The Lord watch between me and thee, 
when we are absent one from another. If thou shalt afflict my 
daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, 
no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.' " 
And Laban said to Jacob, ^^ Behold this' heap, and behold this 
pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; this heap be 
witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over 
this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap 
and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and 
the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us." 

And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. Then 
Jacob oflFered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren 
to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in 
the mount. And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed 
his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban de- 
parted, and returned unto his place. And Jacob went on his 
way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw 



84 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

them, he said, '^This is God's host": and he called the name 
of that place Mahanaim. 

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother 
unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded 
them, saying, ^'Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; ^Thy 
servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and 
stayed there until now: and I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and 
menservants, and womenservants : and I have sent to tell my 
lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.' " And the messengers 
returned to Jacob, saying, ''We came to thy brother Esau, and 
also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him." 

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided 
the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and 
the camels, into two bands; and said, ''If Esau come to the one 
company, and smite it, then the other company which is left 
shall escape." And Jacob said, " O God of my father Abraham, 
and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, 
' Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal 
well with th^e' : I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, 
and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; 
for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am 
become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of 
my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will 
come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou 
saidst, 'I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the 
sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" 

And he lodged there that same night ; and took of that which 
came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; two hundred 
she goats and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes 
Prepares ^nd twenty rams, thirty milch camels with their 
Presents colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she asses 
and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand 
of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his 



JACOB 85 

servants, ^^Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove 
and drove." And he commanded the foremost, saying, ^' When 
Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, ^ Whose 
art thou ? and whither goest thou ? and whose are these before 
thee?' then thou shalt say, 'They be thy servant Jacob's; it is 
a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind 
us.' " And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all 
that followed the droves, saying, ''On this manner shall ye 
speak unto Esau, when ye find him. And say ye moreover, 
'Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he said, "I 
will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and 
afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of 
me." So went the present over before him; and himself lodged 
that night in the company. 

And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his 
two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the 
ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, 
and sent over that he had. 

And Jacob was left alone ; and there wrestled a man with him 
until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he pre- 
vailed not against him, he touched the hollow of 

T3.C0D 
his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out Wrestles 

of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, ^^^^ t^® 

Anfifel 
"Let me go, for the day breaketh." And he said, 

"I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." And he said 

unto him, "What is thy name ?" And he said, "Jacob." And 

he said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: 

for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, 

and hast prevailed." 

And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy 

name." And he said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after 

my name?" And he blessed him there. And Jacob called 

the name of the place Peniel: "for I have seen God face to face. 



86 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and my life is preserved.'' And as he passed over Penuel the 
Sim rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore 
the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which 
is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day : because he touched 
the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. 

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau 
came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the 
children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two hand- 
maids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, 
and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph 
hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed 
himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his 
brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and 
fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted 
up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, 
^ ' Who are those with thee ? " And he said, ^ ^ The children which 
God hath graciously given thy servant." Then the hand- 
maidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed 
themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and 
bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, 
and they bowed themselves. 

And he said, ^^What meanest thou by all this drove which I 
met?" And he said, ^' These are to find grace in the sight of 
Jacob ^^ lord." And Esau said, ^'I have enough, my 

and Esau brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself." And 
^® Jacob said, ^^Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found 

grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for there- 
fore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, 
and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing 
that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with 
me, and because I have enough." And he urged him, and he 
took it. 
And he said, '^Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I 



JACOB 87 

will go before thee/' And he said unto him, ^^My lord 
knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds 
with young are with me; and if men should overdrive them one 
day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over 
before his servant; and I will lead on softly, according as the 
cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, 
until I come unto my lord unto Seir." And Esau said, ^^Let 
me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me." 
And he said, ^^What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight 
of my lord." So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and 
made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is 
called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, 
which is in the land of Canaan, when he came fromPadan- 
aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a 
parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of 
the children of Hamor, Shechem' s father, for a hundred 
pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it 
El-elohe-Israel. 

And God said unto Jacob, ^' Arise, go up to Beth-el, and 
dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared 
unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau Jacob 

thy brother." Then Jacob said unto his household. Builds 

and to all that were with him, ^ ^ Put away the strange ^^ ^^ 
gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your 
garments: and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will 
make there an altar imto God, who answered me in the day of 
my distress, and was with me in the way which I went." And 
they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their 
hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob 
hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. So Jacob 
came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, 
he and all the people that were with him. And he built there 



88 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

an altar, and called the place El-beth-el; because there God 
appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of 
Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, ^'Thy 
name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, 
but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel. 
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and 
multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, 
and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I 
gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed 
after thee will I give the land." And God went up from him 
in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a 
pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of 
stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured 
oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where 
God spake with him, Beth-el. 

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, 
Rachel which is Beth-lehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon 

Dies hej. grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto 

this day. 

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower 
of Edar. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, 
Isaac unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where 

Dies Abraham and Isaac sojourned. And the days of 

Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years. And Isaac gave 
up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being 
old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 



[Gen. XXV, 27-34; xxvii-xxix, 30; xxx, 25-36, 43; xxxi, 

1-9, II, 13-34, 36; xxxii-xxxiii; xxxv, 1-4, 6, 7, 9-15, 

19-21, 27-29.] 



JOSEPH 89 

JOSEPH, FAVOURITE SON OF JACOB 

And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, 
in the land of Canaan. 

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with 
his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with 
the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto 
his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than 
all his children, because he was the son of his old age : and he 
made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw 
that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they 
hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: 
and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, 
^^Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have Joseph's 
dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in Dreams 
the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright ; and, 
behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance 
to my sheaf.'' And his brethren said to him, ^' Shalt thou indeed 
reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?" 
And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his 
words. 

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, 
and said, ^'Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, 
the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to 
me." And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his 
father rebuked him, and said unto him, ''What is this dream 
that thou hast dreamed ? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren 
indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth ? " And 
his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. 

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 
And Israel said unto Joseph, ''Do not thy brethren feed the 
flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee imto them." 



90 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And he said to him, ''Here am I.'' And he said to him, ''Go, 
I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well 
with the flocks; and bring me word again." So he sent him 
out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a 
certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the 
field: and the man asked him, saying, "What seekest thou?" 
And he said, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where 
they feed their flocks." And the man said, "They are departed 
hence; for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" 

And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in 
Dothan. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came 
T seDh ^^^^ ^^^^ them, they conspired against him to slay 

Seeks His him. And they said one to another, "Behold, this 
ers dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us 
slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, ' Some 
evil beast hath devoured him^; and we shall see what will 
become of his dreams." 

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their 
hands; and said, "Let us not kill him." And Reuben said 
unto them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is 
in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him"; that he might 
rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, 
that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours 
that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit: 
and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 

And they sat down to eat bread : and they lifted up their eyes 
and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from 
Toseph Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm 

Sold into and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And* 
^^P Judah said unto his brethren, "What profit is it 

if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ? Come, and 
let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be 



JOSEPH 91 

upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh": and his 
brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites mer- 
chantmen; and they drew and Hfted up Joseph out of the pit, 
and sold Joseph to the IshmaeHtes for twenty pieces of silver: 
and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 

And Reuben returned unto the pit ; and, behold, Joseph was 
not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto 
his brethren, and said, ^'The child is not; and I, whither shall 
I go?" And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the 
goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat 
of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, 
^'This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat 
or no." And he knew it, and said, ^^It is my son's coat; an 
evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in 
pieces." And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon 
his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons 
and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused 
to be comforted; and he said, '' For I will go down into the grave 
unto my son mourning." Thus his father wept for him. And 
the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer 
of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. • 

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an 
officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought 
him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him 
down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a 
prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the 
Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, 
and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And 
Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he 
made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put 
into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had 
made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that 
the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and 



92 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, 
and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hands; 
and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did 
eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored. 

NoWj Potiphar^s wife wrongfully accused Joseph. And 
Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place 
Toseoh where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was 

Is Cast into there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, 
^^^^^ and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the 

sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison | 
committed to Joseph's hands all the prisoners that were in the 
prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under 
his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he 
did, the Lord made it to prosper. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the] 
king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of 
Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, 
against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the 
bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain 
of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was 
bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with 
them, and he served them: and they continued a season in 
ward. 

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream 
in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his 
dream, the butler and the baker of the king of 
Baker and Egypt, which were bound in the prison. And 
the Butler Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and 
looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 
And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward 
of his lord's house, saying, ''Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day ?" 
And they said unto him, '' We have dreamed a dream, and there 



I 



1 



JOSEPH 93 

is no interpreter of it." And Joseph said unto them, ''Do not 
interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you." 

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to 
him, ''In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the 
vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and 
her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth 
ripe grapes: and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took 
the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave 
the cup into Pharaoh's hand." And Joseph said unto him, 
"This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three 
days: yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and 
restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's 
cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast 
his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, 
and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention 
of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed 
I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews : and here 
also have I done nothing that they should put me into the 
dungeon." 

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, 
he said unto Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and, behold, 
I had three white baskets on my head: and in the uppermost 
basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and 
the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head." And 
Joseph answered and said, "This is the interpretation thereof: 
The three baskets are three days: yet within three days shall 
Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on 
a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee." And it 
came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that 
he made a feast unto all his servants : and he lifted up the head 
of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 
And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and 
he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: but he hanged the chief 



94 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the 
chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. 

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh 
dreamed : and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there 
Pharaoh's came up out of the river seven well favoured kine 
Dreams ^md fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, 
behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, 
ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon 
the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed 
kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh 
awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, 
seven ears of com came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 
And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind 
sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the 
seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, 
it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his 
spirit was troubled ; and he sent and called for all the magicians 
of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them 
his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto 
Pharaoh. 

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, '^I do 
remember m.y faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his 
servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's 
house, both me and the chief baker: and we dreamed a dream 
in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to 
the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us 
a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; 
and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each 
man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to 
pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored imto 
mine oflSce, and him he hanged." 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him 
hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed 



JOSEPH 95 

his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said 
unto Joseph, ^'I have dreamed a dream, and there is none 
that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, 
that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.'' interprets 
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ^'It is not Pharaoh's 
in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." 
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, ^*In my dream, behold, I stood 
upon the bank of the river: and, behold, there came up out of 
the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they 
fed in a meadow: and, behold, seven other kine came up after 
them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never 
saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: and the lean and the 
ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: and when 
they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had 
eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. 
So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears 
came up in one stalk, full and good: and, behold, seven ears, 
withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after 
them: and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I 
told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could 
declare it to me.'' 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, *^The dream of Pharaoh is 
one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The 
seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are 
seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill 
favoured kine that came up after them are seven years ; and the 
seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years 
of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh : 
What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, 
there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land 
of Egypt: and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; 
and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and 
the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty shall not be 



96 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it 
shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled 
unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by 
God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let 
Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over 
the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of 
Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all 
the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under 
the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And 
that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years 
of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land 
perish not through the famine." 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, 
Joseph ^' Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom 

Made the Spirit of God is?" And Pharaoh said unto 

^^^ Joseph, '^ Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all 

this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt 
be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my 
people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou." 
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, '^See, I have set thee over all 
the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh took off his ring from his 
hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in 
vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 
and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; 
and they cried before him, ''Bow the knee:" and he made him 
ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto 
Joseph, ''I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift 
up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh 
called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah ; and he gave him to 
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And 
Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 



JOSEPH 97 

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pha- 
raoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence 
of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And 
in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were 
in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food 
of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in 
the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, 
very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 

And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of 
famine came: which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah 
priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of 
the first born Manasseh: ^^For God," said he, **hath made me 
forget all my toil, and all my father's house.'' And the name 
of the second called he Ephraim: ^*For God hath caused me to 
be fruitful in the land of my affliction." 

And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land 
of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to 
come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth ^j^^ 

was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there Famine 
was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was ^°^^^ 

famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh 
said unto all the Egyptians, "" Go unto Joseph; what he saith to 
you, do." And the famine was over all the face of the earth: 
and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyp- 
tians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all 
countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because 
that the famine was so sore in all lands. 

Now when Jacob saw that there was com in Egypt, Jacob 
said imto his sons, '*Why do ye look one upon another?" And 
he said, *^ Behold, I have heard that there is com in Egypt: get 
you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, 
and not die." And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy 



98 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

com in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent 
not with his brethren; for he said, '^Lest peradventure mischief 
befall him." 

And the sons of Israel came to buy com among those that 
came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph 
Toseph ^^^ ^^ governor over the land, and he it was that 
Knows His sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's 
ro ers brethren came, and bowed down themselves before 
him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, 
and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and 
spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, '^ Whence j 
come ye?" And they said, ^^From the land of Canaan to| 
buy food." 

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And 
Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, 
and said unto them, *'Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the 
land ye are come." And they said unto him, ^^Nay, my lord, 
but to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man's 
sons; we are true men; thy servants are no spies." And he 
said unto them, '^Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye 
are come." And they said, '^Thy servants are twelve brethren, 
the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the 
youngest is this day with our father, and one is not." And 
Joseph said unto them, *^That is it that I spake unto you, saying, 
* Ye are spies: hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh 
ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come 
hither.' Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and 
ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, 
whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh 
surely ye are spies." And he put them all together into ward 
three days. 

And Joseph said unto them the third day, **This do, and live; 
for I fear God: if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be 



JOSEPH 99 

bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry com for the 
famine of your houses: but bring your youngest brother imto 
me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.". 
And they did so. 

And they said one to another, ' ^ We are verily guilty concern- 
ing our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when 
he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore Their 

is this distress come upon us. " And Reuben an- Money is 
swered them saying, ^^ Spake I not unto you, saying, ^^ ^^® 
*Do not sin against the child'; and ye would not hear? there- 
fore, behold, also his blood is required." And they knew not 
that Joseph imderstood them; for he spake unto them by an 
interpreter. And he turned himself about from them, and 
wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, 
and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 
Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with com, and 
to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them 
provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. And they 
laded their asses with the com, and departed thence. 

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender 
in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's 
mouth. And he said unto his brethren, '^ My money is restored; 
and, lo, it is even in my sack" : and their heart failed them, and 
they were afraid, saying one to another, *^What is this that 
God hath done unto us ? " 

And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of 
Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, ^^The: 
man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, a^nd 
took us for spies of the country. And we said unto him,, *We 
are true men; we are no spies: we be twelve brethren, sons of 
our .father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our; 
father in the land of Canaan.' And the man, the lord of the 
coimtry, said unto us, 'Hereby shall I know that ye are true, 



100 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food 
for the famine of your households, and be gone: and bring 
your youngest brother imto me: then shall I know that ye are 
no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your 
brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.'" 

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, 
every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both 
they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were 
afraid. And Jacob their father said unto them, ^^Me have ye 
bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and 
ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me." 
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, ^^Slay my two sons, 
if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will 
bring him to thee again." And he said, ^^My son shall not go 
down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if 
mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall 
ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." 

And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, 
when they had eaten up the com which they had brought out 
of Egypt, their father said unto them, ^^Go again, buy us a 
little food." And Judah spake unto him, saying, ^^The man 
did solemnly protest imto us, saying, ' Ye shall not see my face, 
except your brother be with you.' If thou wilt send our I 
brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but if I 
thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man 
said unto us, ' Ye shall not see my face, except your brother 
be with you.' " And Israel said, '^Wherefore dealt ye so ill with 
me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?" And I 
they said, "The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our \ 
kindred, saying, 'Is your father yet alive? have ye another 
brother?' and we told him according to the tenor of these j 
words. Could we certainly know that he would say, 'Bring 
your brother down'?" 



JOSEPH 101 

And Judah said unto Israel his father, '^Send the lad with 
me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, 
both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety 
for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not 
unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame 
for ever: for except we had lingered, surely now we had re- 
turned this second time/' And their father Israel said imto 
them, ^*If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in 
the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, 
a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts and 
almonds: and take double money in your hand; and the money 
that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it 
again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight. Take 
also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: and God 
Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send 
away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of 
my children, I am bereaved.'' 

And the men took that present, and they took double money 

in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to 

Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph 

saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of sons Go 

his house, '^ Bring these men home, and slay, and Again to 

Egypt 
make ready; for these men shall dine with me at 

noon." And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought 

the men into Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, 

because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, 

''Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the 

first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against 

us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses." 

And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they 

communed with him at the door of the house, and said, '' O sir, 

we came indeed down at the first time to buy food : and it came 

to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks. 



102 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, 
our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our 
hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands 
to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks." 
And he said, ^' Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the 
God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: 
I had your money." And he brought Simeon out unto them. 
And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave 
them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their 
asses provender. 

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at 
noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. And when 

Joseph came home, they brought him the present 
Entertains which was in their hand into the house, and bowed 
^^^ themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them 

of their welfare, and said, ^*Is your father well, 
the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?" And they 
answered, *^Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet 
alive." And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. 
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his 
mother's son, and said, *^Is this your younger brother, of whom 
ye spake unto me ?" And he said, '^ God be gracious unto thee, 
my son." And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn 
upon his brother : and he sought where to weep ; and he entered 
into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, 
and went out, and refrained himself, and said, ^^Set on bread." 
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, 
and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: 
because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; 
for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat 
before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the 
youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one 
at another. And he took and sent messes unto them from 



JOSEPH 103 

before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so niuch as 
any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. 

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, *^Fill 
the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put 
every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, 
the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his 
com money." And he did according to the word that Joseph 
had spoken. 

As soon as the morning was Hght, the men were sent away, 
they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, 
and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, ^'Up, follow 
after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto 
them, 'Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this 
it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth ? 
ye have done evil in so doing.'" And he overtook them, and 
he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto 
him, '^ Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid 
that thy servants should do according to this thing: behold, 
the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought 
again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we 
steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever 
of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will 
be my lord's bondmen." And he said, ''Now also let it be 
according unto your words: he with whom.it is found^shall be 
my servant; and ye shall be blameless." Then they speedily 
took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened 
every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, 
and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's 
sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his 
ass, and returned to the city. 

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he 
was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And 
Joseph said imto them, "What deed is this that ye have done? 



104 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?" And 
Judah said, '^What shall we say unto my lord? what shall 
ToseDh*s ^^ speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God 
Brothers hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, 
®^ ® we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also 
with whom the cup is found." And he said, '^ God forbid that 
I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, 
he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace 
imto your father." 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, ^^O my lord, 
let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, 
Judah's and let not thine anger bum against thy servant: 
Plea fQj. thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his 

servants, saying, ^ Have ye a father, or a brother ? ' And we said 
unto my lord, ^We have a father, an old man, and a child of his 
old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left 
of his mother, and his father loveth him.' And thou saidst unto 
thy servants, * Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine 
eyes upon him.' And we said unto my lord, 'The lad cannot 
leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father 
would die.' And thou saidst unto thy servants, 'Except your 
youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no 
more.' And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant 
my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father j 
said, 'Go again, and buy us a little food.' And we said, 'We 
cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will 
we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our I 
youngest brother be with us.' And thy servant my father said 
unto us, ' Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one j 
went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces;' 
and I saw him not since: and if ye take this also from me, and! 
mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with] 
sorrow to the grave.' Now therefore when I come to thyj 



JOSEPH 105 

servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his 
life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he 
seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die : and thy servants 
shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with 
sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the 
lad unto my father, saying, ^If I bring him not unto thee, then I 
shall bear the blame to my father for ever.' Now therefore, I 
pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman 
to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For 
how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with 
me ? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my 
father.'' 

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that 
stood by him; and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from 
me." And there stood no man with him, while 
Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And Makes 

he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Himself 
Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, 
"I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?" And his brethren 
could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 
And Joseph said unto his brethren, *^COme near to me, I pray 
you." And they came near. And he said, '^I am Joseph your 
brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not 
grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for 
God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years 
hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in 
the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And fiod 
sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and 
to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not 
you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a 
father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler through- 
out all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, 
and say unto him, 'Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made 



106 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

me lord of all Egypt: come down tmto me, tarry not' : and thou 
shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto 
me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and 
thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and there will 
I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, 
and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 
And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benja- 
min, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall 
tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have 
seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither." 
And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and 
Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his 
brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren 
talked with him. 

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, 
''Joseph's brethren are come": and it pleased Pharaoh well, 
and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, ''Say unto 
thy brethren, 'This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you 
into the land of Canaan; and take your father and your house- 
holds, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of 
the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Now 
thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the 
land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring 
your father, and come. Also regard not your stufiF; for the good 
of all the land of Egypt is yours.' " 

And the children of Israel did so : and Joseph gave them wag- 
ons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them 
provision for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes 
of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of 
silver, and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent 
after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, 
and ten she asses laden with com and bread and meat for his 
father by the way. So he sent his brethren away, and they 



JOSEPH 1Q7 

departed: and he said unto them, ^'See that ye fall not out by 
the way.'' 

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of 
Canaan unto Jacob their father, and told him, saying, '^Joseph 
is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." 
And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they 
told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: 
• and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry 
him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. And Israel said, 
**It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see 
him before I die." 

And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to 
Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father 
Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions Tacob 

of the night, and said, ^^ Jacob, Jacob." And he Goes to 
said, '^Here am I." And he said, ''I am God, the ^^^^P* 

God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will 
there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into 
Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph 
shall put his hand upon thine eyes." And Jacob rose up from 
Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, 
and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which 
Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, 
and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, 
and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: his 
sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' 
daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. 

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face 
unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. And 
Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel 
his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he 
fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel 
said unto Joseph, **Now let me die, since I have seen thy face. 



108 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

because thou art yet alive." And Joseph said unto his brethren, 
and unto his father's house, ^*I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, 
and say unto him, * My brethren, and my father's house, which 
were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; and the men are 
shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they 
have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they 
have.' And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, 
and shall say, 'What is your occupation?' that ye shall say, 
'Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth 
even until now, both we, and also our fathers': that ye may 
dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomina- 
tion unto the Egyptians." 

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, '*My father 
and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that 
Jacob Is ^^^ have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, 
Presented behold, they are in the land of Goshen." And he 
arao ^^^j^ some of his brethren, even five men, and 
presented them unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto his 
brethren, ''What is your occupation?" And they said unto 
Pharaoh, ''Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our 
fathers." They said moreover unto Pharaoh, "For to sojourn 
in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for 
their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now 
therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of 
Goshen." And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, "Thy 
father and thy brethren are come unto thee: the land of Egypt 
is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and 
brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and , 
if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make 
them rulers over my cattle." 

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before j 
Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said imto 
Jacob, "How old art thou?" And Jacob said imto Pharaoh, j 



JOSEPH 109 

**The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a himdred and 
thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life 
been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the 
life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." And Jacob 
blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. 

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them 
a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in 
the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And 
Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his 
father's household, with bread, according to their families. 

And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was 
very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan 
fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph Joseph 

gathered up all the money that was found in the Buys up 
land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the ^^^ i^sct^ 
com which they bought: and Joseph brought the of the 

money into Pharaoh's house. And when money ^^ ^^^ 
failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the 
Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, ^' Give us bread: for why 
should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth." And 
Joseph said, ^^Give your cattle; and I will give for your cattle, 
if money fail." And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and 
Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the 
flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses; and 
he fed them bread for all their cattle for that year. 

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second 
year, and said unto him, ^^We will not hide it from my lord, 
how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of 
cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our 
bodies, and our lands: wherefore shall we die before thine 
eyes, both we and our land ? Buy us and our land for bread, 
and we and all our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give 
us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not 



110 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

desolate." And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pha- 
raoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the 
famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. 
And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one 
end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 
Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a 
portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion 
which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 

Then Joseph said unto the people, ^^ Behold, I have bought 
you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for 
you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in 
the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, 
and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for 
your food, and for them of your households, and for food for 
your little ones." And they said, '^Thou hast saved our lives: 
let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's 
servants." And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt 
unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except 
the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. 

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the coimtry of 
Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and 
multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 
seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred 
forty and seven years. And the time drew nigh that Israel 
must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, 
"If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy 
hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury 
me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: but I will lie with my fathers, 
and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their 
buryingplace." And he said, "I will do as thou hast said." 
And he said, "Swear unto me." And he sware unto him. 
And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head. And Israel 
said unto Joseph, "Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, 



JOSEPH 111 

and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover 
I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I 
took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with 
my bow." 

And Jacob called imto his sons, and said, *^ Gather yourselves 
together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the 
last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of 
Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father." Every one 
according to his blessing he blessed them. And he charged 
them, and said unto them, ^^I am to be gathered unto my 
people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field 
of Ephron the Hittite. In the cave that is in the field of Mach- 
pelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which 
Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a 
possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham 
and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his 
wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and 
of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth." 
And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he 
gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and 
was gathered unto his people. 

And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went 
up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all 
the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the house of Jacob Is 
Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: Bxiriedln 
only their little ones, and their flocks, and their anaan 

herds, they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with 
him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great com- 
pany. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded 
them: for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and 
buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abra- 
ham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of 
Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. 



112 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and 
all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried 
his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father 
was dead, they said, *^ Joseph will peradventure hate us, and 
will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him." 
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, *^Thy father 
did command before he died, saying, ^So shall ye say unto 
Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, 
and their sin; for they did unto thee eviP: and now, we pray 
thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy 
father." And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And 
his brethren also went and fell dov/n before his face; and they 
said, ^'Behold, we be thy servants.'' And Joseph said unto 
them, ^ ' Fear not : for am I in the place of God ? But as for you, 
ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to 
bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now 
therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." 
And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 

And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and 
Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw 
Joseph Ephr aim's children of the third generation: the 

Dies children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were 

brought up upon Joseph's knees. And Joseph said unto his 
brethren, ^ ^ I die : and God will surely visit you, and bring you out 
of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and 
to Jacob." And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, say- 
ing, ^^God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones 
from hence." So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: 
and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. 

And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that genera- 
tion. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased 
abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and 
the land was filled with them. 

[Gen.xxxvii; xxxix, 1-6,20-23; xl-xlv; xlvi, 1-7, 28-34; 

xlvii; xlviii, 21, 22; xlix, i, 2, 28-53; 1» 7~9> 12-26; 

Ex. i, 6, 7.] 



MOSES , 113 



MOSES 



Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not 

Joseph. And he said unto his people, ^^ Behold, the people of 

the children of Israel are more and mightier than ^, 

,,.,.,, , Pnaraon 

we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; least they Oppresses 

' multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there ]-^.{^®^'^ 
. .. : 1 . . 1 . Children 

falleth out any war, they jom also unto our enemies, 

and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land/' 

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with 

their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom 

and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they 

multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the 

children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of 

Israel to serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with 

hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of 

service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them 

serve, was v/ith rigour. And Pharaoh charged all his people 

saying, ^' Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, 

and every daughter ye shall save alive.'' 

And there went a man of the house of , Levi, and took to wife 
a daughter of Levi. And the woman bare a son: and when she 
saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three 
months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took 
for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and 
with pitch, and put the child therein ; and she laid it in the 
flags by the river's brink. And his sister stood afar ofiF, to wit 
what would be done to him. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself 
at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; 
and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent Finding 
her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, ^^ Moses 
she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had 



114 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

compassion on him, and said, ^^This is one of the Hebrews' 
children." Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, ^^ Shall 
I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she 
may nurse the child for thee?" And Pharaoh's daughter said 
to her, ^^Go." And the maid went and called the child's 
mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, ^^Take this 
child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy 
wages." And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And 
the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, 
and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: 
and she said, ^^Because I drew him out of the water." 

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, 
that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: 
Moses ^^^ ^^ spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one 

Flees to of his brethren. And he looked this way and that 

^ ^^^ way, and when he saw that there was no man, he 
slew the Egyptian, and hid hini in the sand. And when he 
went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews 
strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, ^'Where- 
fore smitest thou thy fellow?" And he said, ''Who made thee 
a prince and a judge over us ? Intendest thou to kill me, as 
thou killedst the Egyptian?" And Moses feared, and said, 
*' Surely this thing is known." Now when Pharaoh heard this 
thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face 
of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down 
by a well. 

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came 
and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's 
flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but 
Moses stood*up and helped them, and watered their flock. And 
when they came to Reuel their father, he said, "How is it that 
ye are come so soon to-day?" And they said, "An Egyptian 
delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew 



MOSES 115 

Water enough for us, and watered the flock." And he said unto 
his daughters, ^^And where is he? why is it that ye have left 
the man? call hini, that he may eat bread." And Moses was 
content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his 
daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name 
Gershom: for he said, '*I have been a stranger in a strange 
land." 

And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt 
died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, 
and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of 
the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remem- 
bered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had 
respect unto them. 

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the 
priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the back side of the 
desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to j^Qges and 
Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the Burn- 
him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and ^^^ 
he looked, and, behold, the 'bush burned with fire, and the bush 
was not consumed. And Moses said, -^'I will now turn aside, 
and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." And 
when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called 
unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, *^ Moses, 
Moses." And he said, ^'Here am I." And he said, '^Draw 
not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place 
whereon thou standest is holy ground." Moreover he said, 
'^I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of 
Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face; for he 
was afraid to look upon God. 

And the Lord said, ^'I have surely seen the affliction of my 
people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason 
of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come 



116 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to 
bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, 
unto a land flowing with milk and honey ; unto the place of the 
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Periz- 
zites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, 
behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and 
I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians 
oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee 
unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the 
children of Israel out of Egypt." 

And Moses said unto God, ^^ Who am I, that I should go unto 
Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel 
out of Egypt?" And he said, '^Certainly I will be with thee; 
and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when 
thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve 
God upon this mountain." And Moses said unto God, ^^ Be- 
hold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say 
unto them, ' The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you^ : 
and they shall say to me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say 
unto them?" And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I 
AM": and he said, ''Thus shalt thou say unto the children 
of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." 

And God said moreover unto Moses, "Thus shalt thou say 
unto the children of Israel, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath 
sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my 
memorial unto all generations.' Go, and gather the elders of 
Israel together, and say unto them, 'The Lord God of your 
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared 
unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is 
done to you in Egypt : and I have said, I will bring you up out 
of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and 
the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the 



MOSES 117 

Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and 
honey.' And they shall. hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt 
come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and 
ye shall say unto him, ' The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met 
with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey 
into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God/ 
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not 
by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite 
Egypt with all my wonders w^hich I will do in the midst thereof: 
and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people 
favour in the sight of the Egyptians : and it shall come to pass, 
that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: but every woman shall 
borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojoumeth in her house, 
jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall 
put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall 
spoil the Egyptians." 

And Moses answered and said, ^^But, behold, they will not 
believe me, nor hearken imto my voice: for they will say, 'The 
Lord hath not appeared unto thee.'" And the Moses 

Lord said unto him, ''What is that in thine hand?" Hesitates 
And he said, "A rod." And he said, ''Cast it on the ground." 
And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and 
Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, 
'*Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail." And he put 
forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 
*'that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, 
hath appeared unto thee." 

And the Lord said furthermore unto him, "Put now thine 
hand into thy bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom: 
and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as 
snow. And he said, "Put thine hand into thy bosom again." 
And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it 



118 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other 
flesh. "And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, 
neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will 
believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, 
if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken 
unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, 
and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest 
out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land." 

And Moses said imto the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not 
eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken imto 
thy servant; but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." 
And the Lord said unto him, "Who hath made man's mouth? 
or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? 
have not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with 
thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." And he said, 
"O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom 
thou wilt send." And the anger of the Lord was kindled against 
Moses, and he said, "Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I 
know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh 
forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in 
his heart. And thou shalt speak imto him, and put words in 
his mouth: and I will be with thy niouth, and with his mouth, 
and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy 
spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be 
to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of 
God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith 
thou shalt do signs." 

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, 
and said unto him, "Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto 
Moses °^y brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether 

Goes to they be yet alive." And Jethro said to Moses, 
Egypt ^<Go in peace." And the Lord said unto Moses 
in Midian, "Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are 



MOSES 119 

dead which sought thy life." And Moses took his wife 
and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned 
to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in 
his hand. 

And^the Lord said imto Moses, ^*When thou goest to return 
into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, 
which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, 
that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto 
Pharaoh, ^Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my 
firstborn: and I say unto thee. Let my son go, that he may 
serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay 
thy son, even thy firstborn.' " 

And the Lord said to Aaron, ^^ Go into the wilderness to meet 
Moses. '' And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and 
kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words Moses and 
of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs t'^^^?^ 
which he had commanded him. And Moses and children of 
Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of Israel 

the children of Israel: and Aaron spake all the words which the 
Lord had spoken unto. Moses, and did the signs in the sight of 
the people. And the people believed: and when they heard 
that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he 
had looked upon their afiiiction, then they bowed their heads 
and worshipped. 

And afterw^ard Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, 

'^Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that 

they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.' " 

And Pharaoh said, ''Who is the Lord, that I should Adds to 

obey his voice to let Israel 2:0 ? I know not the Lord, *^® ?!F^®^ 

of Israel 
neither will I let Israel go." And they said, "The 

God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, 

three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord 

our God: lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with- the sword." 



120 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And the king of Egypt said unto them, ^* Wherefore do ye, Moses 
and Aaron, let the people from their works ? get you unto your 
burdens." And Pharaoh said, ^^ Behold, the people of the land 
now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens." 
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the 
people, and their officers, saying, ^^Ye shall no more give the 
people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and 
gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which 
they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not 
diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, 
saying, ^Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Let there more 
work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein ; and 
let them not regard vain words." 

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, 
and they spake to the people, saying, ^^Thus saith Pharaoh, 
^ I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can 
find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished." So 
the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of 
Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters 
hasted them, saying, ^'Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as 
when there was straw." And the officers of the children of 
Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were 
beaten, and demanded, '^Wherefore have ye not fulfilled 
your task in making brick both yesterday and to-day, as 
heretofore?" 

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto 
Pharaoh, saying, ^^ Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy ser- 
vants ? There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say 
to us, *Make brick': and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but 
the fault is in thine own people." But he said, ^^ Ye are idle, 
ye are idle: therefore ye say, ^Let us go and do sacrifice to the 
Lord.' Go therefore now, and work: for there shall no straw 
be given you^ yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks." And the 



MOSES 121 

ofi&cers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil 
case, after it was said, *^Ye shall not minish ought from your 
bricks of your daily task." 

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as 
they came forth from Pharaoh: and they said unto them, 
'*The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made 
our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.'* 

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, ^^Lord, where- 
fore hast thou so evil entreated this people ? why is it that thou 
hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in 
thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou 
delivered thy people at all." Then the Lord said unto Moses, 
^^Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a 
strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall 
he drive them out of his land." 

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, ''I am the 
Lord: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto 
Jacob, by the name of God Almigh.ty; but by my name 
JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also estab- 
lished my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, 
the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And 
I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom 
the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my 
covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, ^I am the 
Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the 
Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will 
redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 
and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God : 
and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth 
you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, And I will 
bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to 
give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob ; and I will give it 



122 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

you for a heritage: I am the Lord.'" And Moses spake so 
unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses 
for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, **Go in, speak unto 
Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out 
of his land." And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, 
''Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; 
how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised 
lips?" And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and 
gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto 
Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of 
the land of Egypt. And the Lord said unto Moses, ''See, I 
have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall 
be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee ; and 
Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the 
children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's 
heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of 
Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may 
lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my 
people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great 
judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, 
when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the 
children of Israel from among them." And Moses and Aaron 
did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. And Moses 
was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years 
old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
"When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, 'Shew a miracle 
Rods ^^^ you': then thou shalt say unto Aaron, 'Take 

Become thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh and it shall 
erpen s become a serpent.'" And Moses and Aaron went 
in imto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: 
and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his 



MOSES 123 

servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called 
the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, 
they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they 
cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but 
Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened 
Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord 
had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^Tharaoh's heart is hardened, 
he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the 
morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou Waters 
shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; Turned to 
and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou °° 

take in thine hand. And thou shalt say unto him, 'The Lord 
God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying. Let my 
people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, 
behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Thus saith the Lord, 
In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will 
smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the ,waters which 
are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the 
fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and 
the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.'" 
And the Lord spake unto Moses, ^'Say unto Aaron, 'Take thy 
rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon 
their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon 
all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that 
there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in 
vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.'" 

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and 
he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, 
in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all 
the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And 
the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the 
Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there 



124 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians 
of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart 
was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord 
had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, 
neither did he set his heart to this also. And all the Egyptians 
digged round about the river for water to drink ; for they could 
not drink of the water of the river. And seven days were 
fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, ^^ Go unto Pharaoh, and say 
unto him, ^Thus saith the Lord, ^^Let my people go, that they 
£ ^ may serve me." And if thou refuse to let them go, 

Cursed behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: and 

wi rogs ^j^^ ^.^^^ sYidll bring forth frogs abundantly, which 
shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, 
and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon 
thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs : 
and the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, 
and upon all thy servants."' 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, *^Say unto Aaron, ^Stretch 
forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, 
and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land 
of Egypt.' " And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters 
of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 
And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought 
up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ''En- 
treat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and 
from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do 
sacrifice unto the Lord." And Moses said unto Pharaoh, 
** Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy 
servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and 
thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?" And 
he said, ''To-morrow." And he said, "Be it according to thy 



MOSES 125 

word; that thou mayest know that there is none Hke unto the 
Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from 
thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they 
shall remain in the river only.'' And Moses and Aaron went 
out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of 
the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the 
Lord did according to the word of Moses ; and the frogs died 
out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And 
they gathered them together upon heaps; and the land stank. 
But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his 
heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^'Say unto Aaron, 'Stretch 
out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become 
lice throughout all the land of Egypt.''' And they did so; for 
Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust 
of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the 
dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring 
forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, 
and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, 
**This is the finger of God": and Pharaoh's heart was hard- 
ened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ' ' Rise up early in the morn- 
ing, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; 
and say unto him, 'Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, 
that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people 
go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon 
thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: the 
houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also 
the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the 
land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of 
flies shall be there; to the end that thou mayest know that I am 
the Lord in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division 



126 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

between my people and thy people: to-morrow shall this sign 
be.'" And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm 
of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, 
and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by 
reason of the swarm of flies. 

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, 
''Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." And Moses said, 
''It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomina- 
tion of the Egyptians to the Lord our God : lo, shall we sacrifice 
the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will 
they not stone us? We will go three days' journey into the 
wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall 
command us." And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that 
ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only 
ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me." And Moses 
said, "Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Lord 
that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his 
servants, and from his people, to-morrow: but let not Pharaoh 
deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice 
to the Lord." And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and en- 
treated the Lord. And the Lord did according to the word of 
Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, 
from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. 
And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would 
he let the people go. 

Then the Lord said unto Moses, "Go in unto Pharaoh, and 
tell him, 'Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my 
. people go, that they may serve me. For if thou 
refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, be- 
hold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the 
field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon 
the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous 
murrain. And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel 



MOSES 127 

and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that 
is the children's of Israel.'" And the Lord appointed a set 
time, saying, ^* To-morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the 
land." And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the 
cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel 
died not one. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not 
one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pha- 
raoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, ^^Take to 
you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle 
it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall 
become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil 
breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, through- 
out all the land of Egypt." And they took ashes of the furnace, 
and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward 
heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon 
man, and upon beast. And the magicians could not stand 
before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the 
magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened 
the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the 
Lord had spoken unto Moses. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^' Rise up early in the morning, 
and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, *Thus saith the 
Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may 
serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon 
thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that 
thou majest know that there is none like me in all the earth. 
For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and 
thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the 
earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, 
for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be 
declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself 
against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? Behold, 



128 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

to-morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous 
hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof 
even until now. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, 
and all that thou hast in the field ; for upon every man and beast 
which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, 
the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die/" 
He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of 
Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: 
and he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants 
and his cattle in the field. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ''Stretch forth thine hand 
toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, 
upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb 
of the field, throughout the land of Egypt." And 
Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord 
sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; 
and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there 
was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as 
there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a 
nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt 
all that was in the field, both man and beast ; and the hail smote 
every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. Only 
in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was 
there no hail. 

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said 
unto them, ''I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, 
and I and my people are wicked. Entreat the Lord (for it is 
enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; 
and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer." And Moses 
said unto him, ''As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will 
spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder 
shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that 
thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord^s. But as for 



MOSES 129 

thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the 
Lord God." 

And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was 
in the ear, and the flax was boiled. But the wheat and the rye 
were not smitten : for they were not grown up. And Moses went 
out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands 
unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain 
was not poured upon the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that 
the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned 
yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the 
heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the 
children of Israel go; as the^Lord had spoken by Moses. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, '^Go in unto Pharaoh: for 
I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that 
I might shew these my signs before him: and that thou mayest 
tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I 
have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among 
them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord." And Moses 
and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, ^'Thus 
saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, ^How long wilt thou refuse 
to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may 
serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, 
to-morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: and they 
shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see 
the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is es- 
caped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat 
every tree which groweth for you out of the field : and they shall 
fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses 
of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' 
fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth 
unto this day.'" And he turned himself, and went out from 
Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, ^'How long shall this 



130 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

man be a snare unto us ? let the men go, that they may serve 
the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is de- 
stroyed?'' And Moses and Aaron were brought again linto 
Pharaoh: and he said unto them, ^'Go, serve the Lord your 
God: but who are they that shall go?" And Moses said, ''We 
will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with 
our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; 
for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.'' And he said unto 
them, ''Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and 
your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you. Not so: go 
now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did de- 
sire." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ' ' Stretch out thine hand over 

the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon 

the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, 

Locusts „ , ^^\' . : . . . r .. A . ^^ 

even all that the hail hath left. And Moses 
stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord 
brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that 
night; and when it was morning, the east wind broyght the 
locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, 
and rested in all the coasts of Egypt : very grievous were they ; 
before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after 
them shall be such. For they covered the face of the whole 
earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every 
herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail 
had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, 
or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he 
said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against 
you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, 
and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me 
this death only." And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated 
the Lord. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, 



MOSES 131 

which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; 
there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. But 
the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let 
the children of Israel go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^'Stretch out thine hand 
toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of 
Egypt, even darkness which may be felt." And Moses stretched 
forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in 
all the land of Egypt three days: they saw not one another, 
neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the chil- 
dren of Israel had hght in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called 
unto Moses, and said, ^^Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your 
flocks and your herds be stayed : let your little ones also go with 
you." And Moses said, ''Thou must give us also sacrifices and 
burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. 
Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left 
behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; 
and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we 
come thither." But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and 
he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, ''Get 
thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for 
in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die." And Moses 
said, "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Yet will I bring one plague 
more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let 
you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust 
you out hence altogether. Speak now in the ears of the people, 
and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman 
of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold." And 
the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. 
Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt^ 
and in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the 
people. 



132 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And Moses said, ''Thus saith the Lord, 'About midnight 
will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in 
the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that 
sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maid- 
servant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 
And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, 
such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 
But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move 
his tongue, against man or beast': that ye may know how 
that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians 
and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down unto 
me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, ' Get thee out, 
and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go 
out.'" And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 

And the Lord said imto Moses, "Pharaoh shall not hearken 
unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of 
The Egypt." And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders 

Passover before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's 
^^ ^ ^ ® heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel 
go out of his land. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron 
in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be unto you 
the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year 
to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, 
'In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every 
man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb 
for an house: and if the household be too little for the lamb, 
let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according 
to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating 
shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be with- 
out blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the 
sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up imtil the four- 
teenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the 
congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they 



MOSES 133 

shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and 
on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and 
unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat 
not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; 
his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And 
ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that 
which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall bum with 
fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your 
shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall 
eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. For I will pass through 
the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in 
the land of Egypt, both man and beast ; and against all the gods 
of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.'" 

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said imto 
them, ^'Draw out and take you a lamb according to your fam- 
ilies, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, 
and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel 
and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and 
none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morn- 
ing. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; 
and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side 
posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the 
destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye 
shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons 
for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the 
land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath prom- 
ised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, 
when your children shall say unto you, ^What mean ye by this 
service?' that ye shall say, ^It is the sacrifice of the Lord's pass- 
over, w^ho passed over the houses of the children of Israel in 
Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our 
houses.'" And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 



134 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had 
commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the 
firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh 
The ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ throne unto the firstborn of the cap- 

Firstborn tive that was in the dungeon ; and all the firstborn of 
Smitten cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and 
all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great 
cry in Egypt: for there was not a house where there was not 
one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and 
said, ^^Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both 
ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have 
said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, 
and be gone; and bless me also.'' And the Egyptians were 
urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the 
land in haste; for they said, ^^We be all dead men." And the 
people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading- 
troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses ; 
and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels 
of gold, and raiment: and the Lord gave the people favour in 
the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such 
things as they required: and they spoiled the Egyptians. 

And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, 
about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside 
Israel children. And a mixed multitude went up also 

Departs W\{\i them; and flocks, and herds, even very much 
cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which 
they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened ; because 
they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had 
they prepared for themselves any victuals. 

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, 
that God led them not through the way of the land of the 



MOSES 135 

Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perad- 
venture the people repent when they see war, and they return 
to Egypf : but God led the people about, through the .way of 
the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went 
up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the 
bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children 
of Israel, saying, ^^God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry 
up my bones away hence with you/' And they took their 
journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge 
of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in 
a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a 
pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He 
took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of 
fire by night, from before the people. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ''Speak unto the 
children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahi- 
roth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: 
before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of 
the children of Israel, ' They are entangled in the land, the wil- 
derness hath shut them in.' And I will harden Pharaoh's 
heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured 
upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may 
know that I am the Lord." And they did so. 

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and 
the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against 
the people, and they said, ''Why have we done this, pharaoh 
that we have let Israel go from serving us?" And Pursues 
he made ready his chariot, and took his people with ^^^^ 

him: and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the char- 
iots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the 
Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he 
pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel 
went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after 



136 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, 
and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside 
Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted 
up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; 
and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out 
unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, ' ^Because there were 
no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilder- 
ness ? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth 
out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in 
Egypt, saying, ^ Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians ? ' 
For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that 
we should die in the wilderness." And Moses said unto the 
people, ^^Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the 
Lord, which he will shew to you to-day: for the Egyptians whom 
ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^ Wherefore criest thou unto 
me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 
but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the 
sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry 
ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will 
harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow 
them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all 
his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the 
Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten 
me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his 
horsemen." 

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, 
Moses removed and went behind them; and the pillar 

Parts the of the cloud went from before their face, and 

^ ^^ stood behind them: and it came between the 
camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it 



MOSES ■ 137 

was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by 
night to these: so that the one came not near the other all 
the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; 
and the Lord caused the sea to. go back by a strong east wind 
all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were 
divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the 
sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them 
on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pur- 
sued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all 
Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came 
to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the 
host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, 
and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their 
chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the 
Egyptians said, ^^Let us flee from the face of Israel: for the 
Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^ Stretch out thine hand over 
the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians^ 
upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." ^j^^ Egyp- 
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, tians Are 
and the sea returned to his strength when the morn- ^'owne 
ing appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord 
overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the 
waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, 
and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; 
there remained not so much as one of them. But the children 
of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the 
waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their 
left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the 
Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea 
shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did 
upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and 
believed the Lord, and his servant Moses, 



138 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto 
the Lord, and spake, saying, — 

^^I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed 

gloriously: 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 
The Lord is my strength and song. 
And he is become my salvation : 
He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; 
My father's God, and I will exalt him. 
The Lord is a man of war: 
The Lord is his name. 
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into 

the sea." 

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a 
timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her 
with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, 

*^Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed 

gloriously: 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." 

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went 
out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in 
Moses ^^^ wilderness, and found no water. And when they 

Makes came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters 

^^^ of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name 

of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against 
Moses, saying, *^What shall we drink?" And he cried unto 
the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he 
had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there 
he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he 



MOSES 139 

proved them, and said, '^If thou wilt diligently hearken to the 
voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in 
his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep 
all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases Upon thee, 
which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord 
that healeth thee." And they came to Elim, where were twelve 
wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they 
encamped there by the waters. 

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congrega- 
tion of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, 
which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the 
second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured 
against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: and the children 
of Israel said unto them, ^' Would to God we had died by the 
hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the 
flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have 
brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly 
with hunger.'^ Then said the Lord unto Moses, ^^ Behold, I 
will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go 
out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, 
whether they will walk .in my law, or no. And it shall come 
to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which 
they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather 
daily." 

And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, 
*^At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you 
out from the land of Egypt: and in the morning, then ye shall 
see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings 
against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against 
us?" And Moses said, ''This shall be, when the Lord shall 
give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread 
to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which 



140 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings 
are not against us, but against the Lord." 

And Moses spake unto Aaron, ** Say unto all the congregation 
of the children of Israel, Xome near before the Lord: for he 
hath heard your murmurings.' " And it came to pass, as Aaron 
spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, 
that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory 
of the Lord appeared in the cloud. And the Lord spake unto 
Moses, saying, ^^I have heard the murmurings of the children 
of Israel: speak unto them, saying, ^At even ye shall eat flesh, 
and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall 
know that I am the Lord your God.'" 

And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and 
covered the camp : and in the morning the dew lay round about 
the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, 
upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, 
as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children 
of Israel saw it, they said one to another, *^It is manna": for 
they wist not what it was. 

And Moses said unto them, ^^This is the bread which the 
Lord hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord 
hath commanded. Gather of it every man according to his 
eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of 
your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his 
tents." And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some 
more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, 
he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that 
gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man 
according to his eating. And Moses said, ^'Let no man 
leave of it till the morning." Notwithstanding they heark- 
ened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until 
the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses 
was wroth with them. And they gathered it every morning, 



MOSES 141 

every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed 
hot, it melted. 

And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice 
as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the 
congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, 
*'This is that which the Lord hath said, ' To-morrow is the rest 
of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will 
bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which 
remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.' " 
And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it 
did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses 
said, '^Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto the Lord: 
to-day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather 
it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there 
shall be none." 

And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people 
on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And 
the Lord said unto Moses, ^^How long refuse ye to keep my 
commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath 
given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth 
day the bread of two days : abide ye every man in his place, 
let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." So the 
people rested on the seventh day. 

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: 
and it was like coriander seed white; and the taste of it was 
like wafers made with honey. And Moses said, ^'This is the 
thing which the Lord commandeth, ^ Fill an omer of it to be 
kept for your generations; that they may see the bread where- 
with I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you 
forth from the land of Egypt.' " And Moses said unto Aaron, 
^'Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay 
it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations." As the 
Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testi- 



142 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

mony, to be kept. And the children of Israel did eat manna 

forty years, until they came to a land inhabited: they did eat 

manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. 

Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. 

And all the congregation of the children of Israel, journeyed 

from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to 

the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in 
Moses . . 

Strikes Rephidim: and there was no water for the people 

Water out ^o drink. Wherefore the people did chide with 
of the Rock 

Moses, and said, ^' Give us water that we may drink.'- 

And Moses said unto them, ^ ' Why chide ye with me ? wherefore 
do ye tempt the Lord ? " And the people thirsted there for water ; 
and the people murmured against Moses, and said, ^^AVhere- 
fore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill 
us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" And Moses 
cried unto the Lord, saying, "What shall I do unto this people ? 
they be almost ready to stone me." And the Lord said unto 
Moses, ''Go on before the people, and take with thee of the 
elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, 
take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee 
there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, 
and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink." 
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he 
called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because 
of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they 
tempted the Lord, saying, ''Is the Lord among us, or not?" 
Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 
And Moses said unto Joshua, "Choose us out men, and go 
Amalek Is out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on 
Discomfited the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." 
So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Ama- 
lek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel 



MOSES 143 

prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 
But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put 
it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up 
his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other 
side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the 
sun. iVnd Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with 
the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^ Write 
this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of 
Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek 
from imder heaven." And Moses built an altar, and called 
the name of it Jehovah-nissi : for he said, ^^ Because the Lord 
hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from 
generation to generation." 

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, 
heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his 
people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out , 

of Egypt; then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Father in 
Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, Law Joins 
and her two sons ; of which the name of the one was 
Gershom; for he said, ^^I have been an aUen in a strange 
land": and the name of the other was Eliezer; ^^for the God 
of my father," said he, '^was mine help, and delivered me 
from the sword of Pharaoh": and Jethro, Moses' father in 
law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the 
wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: and he 
said unto Moses, ^^I thy father ili law Jethro am come unto 
thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her." 

And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did 
obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their 
welfare; and they came into the tent. And Moses told his 
father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to 
the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had 
come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered thiem. 



144 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had 
done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the 
Egyptians. And Jethro said, ^^ Blessed be the Lord, who hath 
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the 
hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under 
the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is 
greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt 
proudly he was above them.'' And Jethro, Moses' father in 
law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron 
came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' 
father in law before God. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge 
the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning 
Jethro Gives unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law 
Good Advice saw all that he did to the people, he said, ^^ What is 
this thing that thou doest to the people ? why sittest thou thy- 
self alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto 
even?" And Moses said unto his father in law, ^'Because the 
people come unto me to enquire of God: when they have a 
matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and 
another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and 
his laws." And Moses' father in law said unto him, *^The 
thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, 
both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too 
heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 
Hearken now unto my voice,* I will give thee counsel, and God 
shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God- ward, that 
thou may est bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach 
them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein 
they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover 
thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear 
God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over 
them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers 



MOSES 145 

of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at 
all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall 
bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so 
shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden 
with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee 
so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall 
also go to their place in peace." 

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and 
did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all 
Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thou- 
sands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes 
they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged 
themselves. And Moses let his father in law depart; and he 
went his way into his own land. 

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone 
forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the 
wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Israel 

Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, Camps be- 
and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel ^^^ ^^^^ 
camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, 
and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, 
'*Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the chil- 
dren of Israel; 'Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, 
and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto 
myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and 
keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me 
above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto 
me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.' These are the 
words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." 

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and 
laid before their faces all these words which the Lord com- 
manded him. And all the people answered together, and said, 



146 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

**A11 that the Lord hath spoken we will do." And Moses re- 
turned the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord 
said unto Moses, ^'Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that 
the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee 
for ever.'' And Moses told the words of the people unto the 
Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^Go unto the people, 
and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash 
their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third 
day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people 
upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people 
round about, saying, ^Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not 
up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth 
the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an 
hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; 
whether it be beast or man, it shall not live' : when the trumpet 
soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount." 

And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and 
sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he 
said unto the people, ''Be ready against the third day." 

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that 
there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the 
Q^^ mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding 

Appears loud; so that all the people that was in the camp 
on inai trembled. And Moses brought forth the people 
out of the camp to meet with God ; and they stood at the nether 
part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, 
because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke 
thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole 
mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet 
sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, 
and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down 
upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called 
Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 



MOSES 147 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^' Go down, charge the people, 
lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of 
them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the 
Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them." 
And Moses said unto the Lord, '^The people cannot come up to 
mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, 'Set bounds about 
the mount, and sanctify it.'" And the Lord said unto him, 
*'Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and 
Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break 
through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon 
them." So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto 
them. 

And God spake all these words, saying, ' ' I am the Lord thy 
God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out 
of the house of bondage. ^j^^ r^^^ 

''Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Command- 

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven im- °^^^ ^ 

age, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that 
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 
thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: 
for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity 
of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth gen- 
eration of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands 
of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: 
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name 
in vain. 

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt 
thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the 
sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, 
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy 
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy 
gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the 



148 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: where- 
fore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

** Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be 
long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

''Thou shalt not kill. 

''Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

"Thou shalt not steal. 

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not 
covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maid- 
servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neigh- 
bour's." 

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, 
and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and 
when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And 
they said unto Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: 
but let not God speak with us, lest we die." And Moses said 
unto the people, "Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and 
that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not." And 
the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick 
darkness where God was. 

And he said unto Moses, "Come up unto the Lord, thou, 
and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of 
Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come 
near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the 
people go up with him." 

And Moses came and told the people all the words of the 

Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered^ with 

one voice, and said, '^ All the words which the Lord 
Moses 
Causes hath said will we do." And Moses wrote all the 

the People words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, 
to Worship ,,.,,, / , , , .,/ i ^ ., 

and bunded an altar under the hill, and twelve pil- 
lars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young 



I 



MOSES 149 

men of the children of Israel, which ofifered burnt offerings, and 
sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses 
took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood 
he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, 
and read in the audience of the people: and they said, ^^ All that 
the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient." And Moses 
took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, '^Be- 
hold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with 
you concerning all these words." 

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 
seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: 
and there was imder his feet as it were a paved work of a sap- 
phire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his 
hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^Come up to me into the 
mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and 
a law, and commandments which I have written; jyjQses Goes 
that thou may est teach them." And Moses rose up into 
up, and his minister Joshua; and Moses went up ® ^^^* 
into the mount of God. And he said unto the elders, ''Tarry 
ye here for us, until we come again imto you: and, behold, 
Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to 
do, let him come unto them." 

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the 
moimt. And the glory of the Lord abode upon moimt Sinai, 
and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called 
unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of 
the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the 
mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went 
into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: 
and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. And 
he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of commiming 



150 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of 
stone, written with the finger of God. 

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down 
out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto 
Aaron Aaron, and said unto him, ^'Up, make us gods, 

Makes the which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, 
the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, 
we wot not what is become of him.'' And Aaron said unto 
them, ^^ Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of 
your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them 
unto me.'' And all the people brake off the golden earrings 
which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And 
he received them at their hands, and fashioned it with a graving 
tool, after he had made it a molten caff: and they said, ''These 
be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of 
Egypt." And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; 
and Aaron made proclamation, and said, ''To-morrow is a 
feast to the Lord." And they rose up early on the morrow, and 
offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the 
people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Go, get thee down; for thy 
people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have 
corrupted themselves : they have turned aside quickly out of the 
way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten 
calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and 
said, ^ These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up 
out of the land of Egypt.' " And the Lord said unto Moses," I 
have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: now 
therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against 
them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee 
a great nation." 

And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, 
why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou 



MOSES 151 

hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, 
and with a mighty hand ? Wherefore should the Egyptians 
speak, and say, 'For mischief did he bring them Moses 

out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume Prays for 
them from the face of the earth ? ' Turn from thy ^^^® 

fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Re- 
member Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom 
thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, 'I will 
multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land 
that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they 
shall inherit it for ever.'" And the Lord repented of the evil 
which he thought to do unto his people. 

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the 
two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were 
written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other 
were they written. And the tables were the work of God, 
and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the 
tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as 
they shouted, he said unto Moses, ''There is a noise of war 
in the camp." And he said, "It is not the voice of them that 
shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for 
being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear." 

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, 
that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed 
hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and Moses 

brake them beneath the mount. Arid he took the Breaks 

calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, e a es 
and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water 
and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said 
unto Aaron, "What did this people unto thee, that thou 
hast brought so great a sin upon them?" And Aaron said, 
"Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the 
people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, 



152 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

'Make us gods, \yhich shall go before us: for as for this Moses, 
the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot 
not what is become of him.' And I said unto them, ^Whosoever 
hath any gold, let them break it o£f.' So they gave it me: then 
I cast it into the fire, and there came out this caK." 

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron 
had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies,) 
Three ^^^^ Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said. 

Thousand *^Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto 

^^^ me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves 

together unto him. And he said unto them, ^^Thus saith the 
Lord God of Israel, *Put every man his sword by his side, and 
go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay 
every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every 
man his neighbour.'" And the children of Levi did according 
to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about 
three thousand men. For Moses had said, ^^ Consecrate your- 
selves to-day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon 
his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day." 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the 
people, '* Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto 
the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your 
sin." And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, ^^Oh, 
this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods 
of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, 
blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." 
And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^ Whosoever hath sinned 
against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, 
lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken imto thee: 
behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the 
day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." And the 
Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf, which 
Aaron made. 



MOSES 153 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ** Depart, and go up hence, 
thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land 
of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abra- Moses Is 
ham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, *Unto thy seed Commanded 
will I give it: and I will send an Angel before thee; ^ vance 
and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, 
and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: unto a land 
flowing with milk and honey ' : f or I will not go up in the midst 
of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people; lest I consume thee 
in the way.'' And when the people heard these evil tidings, 
they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. 
For the Lord had said unto Moses, ^^Say unto the children of 
Israel, ^Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the 
midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now 
put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do 
unto thee.'" And the children of Israel stripped themselves of 
their ornaments by the mount Horeb. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^Hew thee two tables of 
stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the 
words that were in the first tables, which thou brak- xhe Tables 
est. And be ready in the morning, and come up in Renewed 
the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyseK there to me 
in the top of the mount. And no man shall come up with thee, 
neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither 
let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount." And he hewed 
two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early 
in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord 
had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of 
stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with 
him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord 
said imto Moses, ^^ Write thou these words: for after the tenor 
of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with 
Israel." And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty 



154 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he 
wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten com- 
mandments. 

And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount 
Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses^ hand, when 
Moses* ^^ came down from the mount, that Moses wist not 

Face that the skin of his face shone while he talked with 

mes }x\ni. And when Aaron and all the children of 

Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they 
were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called* unto them; 
and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto 
him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the chil- 
dren of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment 
all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And 
till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his 
face. But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with 
him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, 
and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was com- 
manded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, 
that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail 
upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. 

And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, 
in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the 
tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took 
their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai ; and the cloud rested 
in the wilderness of Paran. And they departed from the mount 
of the Lord three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant 
of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to 
search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord 
was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And 
it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, 
**Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let 
them that hate thee flee before thee." And when it rested, 



MOSES 155 

he said, ^^ Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of 
Israel.'^ 

And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: 
and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, ^'Who 
shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, Israel 

which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, Complains 
and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 
but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside 
this manna, before our eyes.'' And the manna was as coriander 
seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. And 
the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, 
or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes 
of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And 
when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell 
upon it. 

Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, 
every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord 
was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses 
said unto the Lord, *^ Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? 
and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou 
layest the burden of all this people upon me ? Have I conceived 
all this people ? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say 
unto me, * Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth 
the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their 
fathers?' AVhence should I have flesh to give unto all this 
people ? for they weep unto me, saying, ^Give us flesh, that we 
may eat.' I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it 
is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, 
I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; 
and let me not see my wretchedness." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, *' Gather unto me seventy 
men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the 
elders of the people, and officers over them ; and bring them 



156 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand 
there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee 
there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will 
put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people 
with thee, that thou bear it not thyseK alone. And say thou unto 
the people, ^ Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall 
eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, 
*'Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in 
Egypt": therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall 
eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, 
neither ten days, nor twenty days; but even a whole month, 
until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: 
because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, 
and have wept before him, saying, ^^Why came we forth out 
of Egypt?'"" 

And Moses said, *^The people, among whom I am, are six 
hundred thousand footmen ; and thou hast said, ^ I will give them 
flesh, that they may eat a whole month.' Shall the flocks and 
the herds be slain for them, to suSice them? or shall all the 
fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?" 
And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^Is the Lord's hand waxed 
short ? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass 
unto thee or not." 

And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the 
Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, 
Seventy ^^^ ^^^ them round about the tabernacle. And the 
Elders Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, 

ppoin e ^^^ ^^^j^ ^£ ^^ spirit that was upon him, and gave 
it imto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the 
spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. 

But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of 
the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and 
the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were 



MOSES 157 

written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they proph- 
esied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, 
and said, ^^Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.'^ And 
Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young 
men, answered and said, ^^My lord Moses, forbid them/' And 
Moses said unto him, ^^Enviest thou for my sake? would God 
that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord 
would put his spirit upon them." 

And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 
And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails 
from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's 
journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other 
side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon 
the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, 
and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the 
quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they 
spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was 
chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, 
and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And 
he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah : because 
there they buried the people that lusted. And the people 
journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode 
at Hazeroth. 

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the 
Ethiopian woman whom he had married : for he had married an 
Ethiopian woman. And they said, ^^Hath the Lord indeed 
spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?" 
And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, 
above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 
And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, 
and unto Miriam, '^Come out ye three unto the tabernacle 
of the congregation." And they three came out. And the 



158 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the 
door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and 
they both came forth. And he said, ''Hear now my words: 
If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make my- 
self known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him 
in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in 
all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even 
apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the 
Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to 
speak against my servant Moses?" And the anger of the Lord 
was kindled against them; and he departed. 

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle ; and, behold, 
Miriam became leprous, white as snow : and Aaron looked upon 
Miriam * Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. And Aaron 
and Aaron said unto Moses, ' ' Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay 
^^^^ ® not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foohshly, 
and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, 
of whom the flesh is half consumed." And Moses cried unto 
the Lord, saying, ''Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." 
And the Lord said unto Moses, "If her father had but spit 
in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?" let her 
be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her 
be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp 
seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was 
brought in again. And afterward the people removed from 
Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Send thou men, 
that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto 
The Twelve the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers 
Spies shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among 

them." And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent 
them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads 
of the children of Israel. And Moses sent them to spy out the 



MOSES 159 

land of Canaan, and said unto them, ''Get you up this way 
southward, and go up into the mountain: and see the land, 
what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they 
be strong or weak, few or many; and what the land is that they 
dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be 
that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds ; and what 
the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood 
therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the 
fruit of the land.'' Now the time was the time of the first ripe 
grapes. 

So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness 
of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. And they as- 
cended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, 
Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now 
Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And 
they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence 
a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between 
two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and 
of the figs. The place was called the brook of Eshcol, because 
of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down 
from thence. And they returned from searching of the land 
after forty days. 

And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all 
the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness 
of Paran, to Kadesh ; and brought back word unto Report of 
them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed *^^ S^iqs 
them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, *^We 
came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth 
with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless 
the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are 
walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of 
Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: 
and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell 



160 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

in the mountains : and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by 
the coast of Jordan." 

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, **Let 
us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome 
it.'' But the men that went up with him said, ^^ We be not able 
to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.'* 
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had 
searched unto the children of Israel, saying, ^'The land, 
through which we have gone to search it, is a land that 
eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that 
we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw 
the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and 
we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in 
their sight." 

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried ; and 

the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel 

murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and 

Weeps the whole congregation said unto them, ^ Would 

in Disap- Qq^j ^^^ ^q j^g^j (jj^d jj^ ^j^g lo^j^^^ of Egypt ! or would 

God we had died in this wilderness ! And wherefore 
hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, 
that our wives and our children should be a prey ? were it not 
better for us to return into Egypt?" And they said one to an- 
other, '^Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." 
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly 
of the congregation of the children of Israel. And Joshua the son 
of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them 
that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto 
all the company of the children of Israel, saying, ^'The land, 
which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 
If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, 
and give it us ; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only 
rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the 



AIOSES 161 

land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from 
them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.'' But all the 
congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of 
the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before 
all the children of Israel. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
*'How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which 
murmur against me ? I have heard the murmurings Joshua 

of the children of Israel, which they murmur and Caleb 
against me. Say unto them, 'As truly as I live, saith ^^^ ^^® 
the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 
your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were 
numbered of you, according to your whole number, from 
twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against 
me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which 
I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of 
Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, 
which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they 
shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, 
your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your 
children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, until your 
carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the 
days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day 
for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and 
ye shall know my breach of promise. I the Lord have said, I 
will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered 
together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, 
and there they shall die.' " 

And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who re- 
turned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, 
by bringing up a slander upon the land, even those men that 
did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague 
before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the 



162 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search 
the land, lived still. 

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: 
and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in 
the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, 
saying, ^^Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the 
Lord hath promised: for we have sinned." And Moses said, 
"Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the 
Lord ? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the Lord is not 
among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For 
the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and 
ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the 
Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you." 

But they presumed to go up imto the hill top: nevertheless 

the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, 
Israel 
Smitten departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites 

by the came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that 

Canaanites 

hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even 

imto Hormah. 

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they 
found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And 
Sabbath ^^^^ ^^^^ found him gathering sticks brought him 
Breaker unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congrega- 

^^^ tion. And they put him in ward, because it was not 

declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto 
Moses, '^ The man shall be surely put to death: all the congrega- 
tion shall stone him with stones without the camp." And all the 
congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him 
with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses. 

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of 
Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the 
son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: and they rose up 
before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hun- 



MOSES 163 

dred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congre- 
gation, men of renown: and they gathered themselves together 
against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto Moses 

them, **Ye take too much upon you, seeing all Conspired 
the congregation are holy, every one of them, and gains 

the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves 
above the congregation of the Lord?" 

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: and he spake 
unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, ^' Even to-morrow 
the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause 
him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen 
will he cause to come near imto him. This do; Take you 
censers, Korah, and all his company; and put fire therein, 
and put incense in them before the Lord to-morrow: and it 
shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be 
holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi." And 
Moses said unto Korah, '^Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 
seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel 
hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring 
you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the 
Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto 
them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy 
brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priest- 
hood also ? For which cause both thou and all thy company 
are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, 
that ye murmur against him?" 

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: 
which said, "We will not come up: is it a small thing that thou 
hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and 
honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself 
altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought 
us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us 
inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes 



164 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

of these men? we will not come up.'' And Moses was very 
wroth, and said unto the Lord, '^Respect not thou their oflfering: 
I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one 
of them.'' 

And Moses said unto Korah, ''Be thou and all thy company 
before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow: and 
take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring 
ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and 
fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer." 
And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and 
laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle 
of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. And Korah gath- 
ered all the congregation together against them unto the door 
of the tabernacle of the congregation : and the glory of the Lord 
appeared unto all the congregation. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
''Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I 
may consume them in a moment." And they fell upon their 
faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, 
shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the con- 
gregation?" 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " Speak unto the 
congregation, saying, 'Get you up from about the tabernacle 
of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" And Moses rose up and 
went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed 
him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, "Depart, I 
pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing 
of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." So they gat up 
from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every 
side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door 
of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little 
children. And Moses said, "Hereby ye shall know that the 
Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done 



MOSES 165 

them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death 
of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; 
then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord make a new 
thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, 
with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick 
into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have 
provoked the Lord." 

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all 
these words that the ground clave asunder that was under 
them: and the earth opened her mouth, and Rebels 

swallowed them up, and their houses, and all Swallowed 
the men that appertained unto Korah, and all ^ 

their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went 
down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: 
and they perished from among the congregation. And all 
Israel that were round about them fied at the cry of them: 
for they said, ^^Lest the earth swallow us up also." And there 
came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred 
and fifty men that offered incense. 

But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of 
Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, 
'^ Ye have killed the people of the Lord." And it came to pass, 
when the congregation was gathered against Moses and 
against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the 
congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the 
glory of the Lord appeared. And. Moses and Aaron came 
before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the Lord 
spake unto Moses, saying, ^^Get you up from among this 
congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment." 
And they fell upon their faces. 

And Moses said unto Aaron, ^'Take a censer, and put fire 
therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly 
unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: 



166 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is be- 
gun." And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into 
Plague ^^ midst of the congregation; and, behold, the 
Stayed plague was begun among the people: and he put on 
^ ^^^ incense, and made an atonement for the people. 
And he stood between the dead and the Hving; and the plague 
was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen 
thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about 
the matter of Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses imto 
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague 
was stayed. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, *^ Speak unto the 
children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according 
to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the 
house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name 
upon his rod. And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod 
of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their 
fathers. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the con- 
gregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. And 
it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, 
shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmur- 
ings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against 
you." 

And Moses spake imto the children of Israel, and every one 
of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, ac- 
Aaron^s cording to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: 
Rod and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And 

ossoms ]y[Qses laid up the rods before the Lord in the taber- 
nacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow 
Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod 
of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth 
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses 
brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the 



MOSES 167 

children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his 
rod. And the Lord said imto Moses, ''Bring Aaron's rod 
again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the 
rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from 
me, that they die not." And Moses did so: as the Lord com- 
manded him, so did he. 

And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, ''Be- 
hold, we die, we perish, we all perish. Whosoever cometh 
any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall 
we be consumed with dying?" 

Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congre- 
gation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people 
abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 

And there was no water for the congregation: and they 
gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, "Would 
God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into 
this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there ? And 
wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring 
us in unto this evil place ? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or 
of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to 
drink." 

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly 
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they 
fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto 
them. And the Lord spake imto Moses, saying, "Take the 
rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron 
thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; 
and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth 
to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congrega- 
tion and their beasts drink." And Moses took the rod from 
before the Lord, as he commanded him. 



168 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together 
before the rock, and he said unto them, ''Hear now, ye rebels; 
Moses must we fetch you water out of this rock?" And 

Sins Moses Uf ted up his hand, and with his rod he smote 

the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the 
congregation drank, and their beasts also. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, ''Because ye 
believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of 
Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the 
land which I have given them.'' This is the water of Meribah; 
because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was 
sanctified in them. 

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, 
journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. And the 
Aaron Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, 

Dies by i]^^ coast of the land of Edom, saying, "Aaron 

shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into 
the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because 
ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take 
Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: 
and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar 
his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall 
die there." And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they 
went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon 
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: 
and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when 
all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned 
for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. 

And when King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the 
Arad south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the 

Defeated spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some 
of them prisoners. And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, 



MOSES 169 

and said, "If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, 
then I will utterly destroy their cities." And the Lord heark- 
ened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; 
and they utterly destroyed them and their cities : and he called 
the name of the place Hormah. 

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red 
sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people 
was much discouraged because of the way. And The Fiery 
the people spake against God, and against Moses, Serpents 
"Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the 
wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; 
and our soul loatheth this light bread." And the Lord sent 
fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and 
much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to 
Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against 
the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take 
away the serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people. 
And the Lord said unto Moses, " Make thee a fiery serpent, and 
set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one 
that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." And Moses 
made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to 
pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the 
serpent of brass, he lived. 

Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. And Moses 
sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and 
drove out the Amorites that were there. And they Og 

turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og Smitten 
the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, 
to the battle at Edrei. And the Lord said unto Moses, "Fear 
him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his 
people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst 
unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon." 
So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there 



170 



OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 



was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. And the 
children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab 
on this side Jordan by Jericho. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, '' Get thee up into this mount 
Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children 
Moses ^^ Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also 

Gets Ready shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy 
^ ^^ brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against my 

commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congre- 
gation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the 
water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.^' 

And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, ^'Let the Lord, the 
God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 
which may go out before them, and wh,ich may go in before 
them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring 
them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep 
which have no shepherd." And the Lord said unto Moses, 
*'Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, 
and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the 
priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge 
in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon 
him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be 
obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who 
shall ask coimsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the 
Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall 
come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even 
all the congregation." 

And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took 
Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the 
congregation: and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a 
charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. 

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the 
sight of all Israel, ^^Be strong and of a good courage: for thou 



MOSES 171 

must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath 
sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause 
them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before 
thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake 
thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.'' 

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the moun- 
tain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. 
And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, -^i^^^^ Sees 
unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Canaan 
Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, 
unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley 
of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord 
said unto him, ^^This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, 
unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, ^ I will give it unto thy seed' : 
I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not 
go over thither." So Moses the servant of the Lord died there 
in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And 
he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against 
Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this 
day. 

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he 
died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And 
the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 
thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses 
were ended. 

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; 
for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of 
Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded 
Moses. 

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, 
whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the won- 
ders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to 
Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all 



172 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses 
shewed in the sight of all Israel. 



[Ex. i, 8-14, 22; ii; iii; iv, 1-23, 27-31; v; vi, 1-13; 
vii-xi; xii, 1-12, 21-39; xiii, 17-22; xiv; xv, 1-4, 20-27; 
xvi-xx, 21; xxiv; xxxi, 18; xxxii; xxxiii, 1-6; xxxiv, 1-5, 
27-35; Num. X, II, 12, 33-36; xi, 4-35; xii; xiii, 1-3, 
17-33; xiv, i-io, 26-45; XV, 32-36; xvi, 1-35, 41-50; 
xvii; XX, 1-13, 22-29; xxi, 1-9, 31-35; xxii, i; xxvii, 
12-23; Deut. xxxi, 7, 8; xxxiv.] 



BALAAM 173 



BALAAM 



And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done 

to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, 

because they were many: and Moab was distressed _ , , 

. . Balak 

because of the children of Israel. And Moab said Entreats 

unto the elders of Midian/^Now shall this company Balaam to 

. Curse Israel 

lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh 

up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was 
king of the Moabites at that time. He sent messengers there- 
fore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the 
river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, 
'* Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they 
cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 
come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they 
are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we 
may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: 
for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom 
thou cursest is cursed." 

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed 
with the rewards of divination in their h.and; and they came unto 
Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said 
unto them, '^ Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word 
again, as the Lord shall speak unto me": and the princes of 
Moab abode with Balaam. 

And God came unto Balaam, and said, ^^ What men are these 
with thee?" And Balaam said unto God, ^^ Balak the son of 
Zippor, the king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, ^Behold 
there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face 
of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall 
be able to overcome them, and drive them out.'" And God 
said unto Balaam, ^'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt 
not curse the people: for they are blessed." And Balaam rose 



174 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, '*Get 
you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to 
go with you." 

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, 
and said, '^Balaam refuseth to come with us." And Balak sent 
yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. And 
they came to Balaam, and said to him, ^^Thus saith Balak the 
son of Zippor, *Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from 
coming unto me: for I will promote thee unto very great 
honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come 
therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'" And Balaam 
answered and said unto the servants of Balak, '^If Balak 
would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go 
beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. Now 
therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may 
know what the Lord will say unto me more." And God came 
unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, '^If the men come to 
call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which 
I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and 
went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled 
. . , because he went: and the ansrel of the Lord stood in 
Bars the the way for an adversary against him. Now he was 
Path of riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with 
him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing 
in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned 
aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote 
the ass, to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood 
in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a 
wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, 
she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot 
against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of 
the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was 



BALAAM 175 

no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when 
the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: 
and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a 
staflF. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said 
imto Balaam, ^^What have I done unto thee, that thou hast 
smitten me these three times?" And Balaam said unto the 
ass, ''Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a 
sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee." And the ass 
said unto Balaam, ''Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast 
ridden ever since I was thine imto this day? was I ever wont 
to do so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." 

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the 
angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn 
in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his 
face. And the angel of the Lord said unto him, "Wherefore 
hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went 
out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 
and the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: 
imless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, 
and saved her alive." And Balaam said unto the angel of the 
Lord, "I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the 
way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get 
me back again." And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, 
"Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak xmto 
thee, that thou shalt speak." So Balaam went with the princes 
of Balak. 

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out 
to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Ar- 
non, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto 
Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send imto thee to call thee? 
wherefore camest thou not unto me ? am I not able indeed to 
promote thee to honour?" And Balaam said unto Balak, "Lo, 
I am come imto thee: have I now any power at all to say any 



176 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I 

speak." 

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath- 

huzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, 

_ , and to the princes that were with him. And it came 

Balaam 

Fails to to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and 

Curse brought him up into the high places of Baal, that 

thence he might see the utmost part of the people. 

And Balaam said unto Balak, ''Build me here seven altars, 

and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams." And Balak 

did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on 

every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, 

'^ Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the 

Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I 

will tell thee." 

And he went to an high place. And God met Balaam: and 

he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have 

offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the Lord 

put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, ''Return unto Balak, 

and thus thou shalt speak." And he returned unto him, and, 

lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of 

Moab. And he took his parable, and said, 

"Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, 
Out of the mountains of the east. 
Saying, ' Come, curse me Jacob, 
And come, defy Israel.' 

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed ? 
Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied ? 
For from the top of the rocks I see him, 
And from the hills I behold him: 
Lo, the people shall dwell alone. 
And shall not be reckoned among the nations. 



BALAAM 177 

Who can count the dust of Jacob, 
And the number of the fourth part of Israel ? 
Let me die the death of the righteous, 
And let my last end be like his!'' 

And Balak said unto Balaam, ^'What hast thou done unto 
me ? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast 
blessed them altogether." And he answered and said, *^Must 
I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my 
mouth?" 

And Balak said unto him, ^^Come, I pray thee, with me unto 
another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt 
see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see Balak 

them all : and curse me them from thence." And he Again Dis- 
brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top ^PP^^^*^^ 
of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a 
ram on every altar. And he said unto Balak, ^^ Stand here by 
thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder." And the 
Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, 
*^Go again unto Balak, and say thus." And when he came 
to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes 
of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, ^^What hath 
the Lord spoken ? " 

And he took up his parable, and said, 

^'Rise up, Balak, and hear; 
Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 
God is not a man, that he should lie; 
Neither the son of man, that he should repent : 
Hath he said, and shall he not do it ? 
Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? 
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: 
And he hath blessed ; and I cannot reverse it. 



178 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, 
Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: 
The Lord his God is with him, 
And the shout of a king is among them. 
God brought them out of Egypt; 
He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, 
Neither is there any divination against Israel: 
According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, 
'What hath God wrought!' 
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, 
And lift up himself as a young lion: 
He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, 
And drink the blood of the slain." 

And Balak said unto Balaam, *^ Neither curse them at all, 
nor bless them at all." But Balaam answered and said unto 
Balak, ''Told not I thee, saying, 'AH that the Lord speaketh, 
that I must do?'" 

And Balak said unto Balaam, "Come, I pray thee, I will 
bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God 
Balaam ^^^^ thoM mayest curse me them from thence. And 
Blesses Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that 
^^^^ looketh toward Jeshimon. And Balaam said unto 

Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven 
bullocks and seven rams." And Balak did as Balaam had said, 
and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And when 
Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went 
not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his 
face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, 
and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; 
and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his 
parable, and said. 



BALAAM 179 

"Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 
And the man whose eyes are open hath said: 
He hath said, which heard the words ',of God, 
Which saw the vision of the Almighty, 
Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 
Hqw goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, 
And thy tabernacles, O Israel! 
As the valleys are they spread forth, 
As gardens by the river's side. 

As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted. 
And as cedar trees beside the waters. 
He shall pour the water out of his buckets. 
And his seed shall be in many waters, 
And his king shall be higher than Agag, 
And his kingdom shall be exalted! 
God brought him forth out of Egypt; 
He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 
He shall eat up the nations his enemies. 
And shall break their bones, 
And pierce them through with his arrows. 
He couched, he lay down as a lioji. 
And as a great lion : who shall stir him up ? 
Blessed is he that blesseth thee. 
And cursed is he that curseth thee.'' 

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he 
smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, **I 
called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou Anger 

hast altogether blessed them these three times. of 

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to ^ 

promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept 
thee back from honour." And Balaam said imto Balak, 
*' Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto 



180 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

me, saying, ^If Balak would give me his house full of silver and 
gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to 
do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord 
saith, that will I speak?' And now, behold, I go unto my 
people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this 
people shall do to thy people in the latter days/' And he took 
up his parable, and said, 

'^Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 
' Aiid the man whose eyes are open hath said ; 
He hath said, which heard the words of God, 
And knew the knowledge of the most High, 
. Which saw the vision of the Almighty, 
Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 
I shall see hinr, but not now; 
I shall behold him, but not nigh; 
There shall come a Star out of Jacob,- 
And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, 
And shall smite the corners of Moab, 
And destroy all the children of Sheth. 
And Edom shall be a possession, 
Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; 
And Israel shall do valiantly. 

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, 
And shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.'' 

; And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, 
and said, ^^ Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter 
end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the 
Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, ^Strong is thy dwell- 
ingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless 
the- Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away 
captive.'" 



I 



BALAAM 181 

And he took up his parable, and said, ^^Alas, who shall live 
when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast 
of Chittim, and shall afllict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and 
he also shall perish for ever." 

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and 
Balak also went his way. 



[Num. xxii, 2-41; xxiii; xxiv.] 



182 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

JOSHUA 

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it 
came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, 
Q^^ Moses' minister, saying, '* Moses my servant is 

Exhorts dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, 
^^^ "^ and all this people, imto the land which I do give 
to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the 
sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, 
as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon 
even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the 
Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the 
sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to 
stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, 
so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt 
thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware imto 
their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very cour- 
ageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, 
which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it 
to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper 
whithersoever thou goest. Have not I commanded thee? Be 
strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou 
dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever 
thou goest." 

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to 
spy secretly, saying, **Go view the land, even Jericho.'' And 
they went, and came into a woman* s house, named Rahab, and 
lodged there. 

And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, '^Behold, there 
came men in hither to-night of the children of Israel to search 
out the country." And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, 
saying, ''Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are 



JOSHUA . 183 

entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all 
the country.'' And the woman took the two men, and hid 
them, and said thus, *^ There came men unto me, Rahab 

but I wist not whence they were: and it came to Harbors 
pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it ® ^^^^ 

was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot 
not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them/' 
But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and 
hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order 
upon the roof. 

And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto 
the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were 
gone out, they shut the gate. 

And, before they were laid down, she came up unto them 
upon the roof; and she said unto the men, *^I know that the 
Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen 
upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint 
because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried 
up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of 
Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, 
that were on the other side Jordan,, Sihon and Og, whom 
ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these 
things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any 
more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your 
God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Now 
therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have 
shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my 
father's house, and give me a true token: and that ye will save 
alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my 
sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." 

And the men answered her, ^*Our life for yours, if ye utter 
not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath 
given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee." 



184 • OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Then she let them down by a cord through the window ; for 
her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the 

Rahab ^^^^* ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^"^^^ them, ^'Get you to 

Promised the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and 
^ ® ^ hide yourselves there three days, until the pur- 

suers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. And 
the men said unto her, ^^We will be blameless of this 
thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when 
we come into the land, thou shalt bind this Hne of scarlet 
thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou 
shalt bring thy father, and thy mother and thy brethren, and 
all thy father's household, home unto thee. And it shall be, 
that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the 
street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: 
and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall 
be on our head, if any hand be upon him. And if thou utter 
this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou 
hast made us to swear." And she said, ^^ According unto your 
words, so be it.'' And she sent them away, and they departed: 
and she bound the scarlet line in the window. And they went, 
and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, 
until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought 
them throughout all the way, but found them not. 

So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, 
and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told 
The Spies him all things that befell them: and they said unto 
Retixrn Joshua, ^^ Truly the Lord hath delivered into our 
hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country 
do faint because of us." 

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed 
from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of 
Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it 
came to pass after three days, that the officers went through 



JOSHUA 185 

the host; and they commanded the people, saying, **When 
ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the 
priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your 
place, and go after it.'' 

And it came to pass, when the people removed from their 
tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the 
covenant before the people; and as they that Israel 

bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the Crosses 
feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped ^^^ ^° 
in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfioweth all his 
banks all the time of harvest), that the waters which came 
down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from 
the city of Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came 
down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and 
were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord 
stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the 
Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were 
passed clean over Jordan. 

And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed 
over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, *'Take 
you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe The 

a man, and command ye them, saying, ^Take you Memorial 
hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the 
priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones; and ye shall carry them 
over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye 
shall lodge this night.'" Then Joshua called the twelve men, 
whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every 
tribe a man: and Joshua said unto them, ^^Pass over before the 
ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take 
you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according 
unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: that this 
may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their 



186 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

fathers in time to come, saying, ^ What mean ye by these stones ?' 
then ye shall answer them, that the waters of Jordan were cut 
ofif before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed 
over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these 
stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for. 
ever." And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, 
and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the 
Lord spake unto Joshua, according unto the number of the 
tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with 
them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down 
there. And Joshua set up twelv,e stones in the midst of Jordan, 
in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark 
of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. 

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of 
Israel: none went put, and none came in. And the Lord said 
Jericho unto Joshua, ^'See, I have given into thiiie hand 
is Doomed Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men 
of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, 
and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of 
rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city 
seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And 
it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the 
ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the 
people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city 
shall fall down fiat, and the people shall ascend up every man 
straight before him." 

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto 
them, '^Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests 
Marching ^^^^ seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark 
around of the Lord." And he said unto the people, '^Pass 
J eric ^^^ ^^j compass the city, and let him that is armed 
pass on before the ark of the Lord." And it came to pass, when 



JOSHUA 187 

Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests 
bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before 
the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord followed them. And the armed men went 
before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward 
came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the 
trumpets. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, 
*^ Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither 
shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid 
you shout; then shall ye shout." So the ark of the Lord com- 
passed the city, going about it once: and they came into the 
camp, and lodged in the camp. 

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took 
up the ark of the Lord. And seven priests bearing seven trum- 
pets' of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continu- 
ally, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went 
before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, 
the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And the 
second day they compassed the city once, and returned into 
the camp : so they did six days. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early 
about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after 
the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed 
the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, 
when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the 
people, ^^ Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. And the 
city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the 
Lord: only Rahab shall live, she and all that are with her in 
the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And 
ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest 
ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed 
thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 
But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are 



188 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury 
of the Lord." 

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trum- 
pets : and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of 
Jericho the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great 
Falls shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people 

went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they 
took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the 
city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, 
and ass, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said unto 
the two men that had spied out the country, ^^Go, and bring 
out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto 
her." And the young men that were spies went in, and brought 
out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, 
and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, 
and left them without the camp of Israel. And they burnt the 
city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the 
gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the 
treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua saved Rahab 
alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and 
she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the 
messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 

And Joshua adjured them at the time, saying, ^Xursed be 
the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city 
Jericho : he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in 
his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it." So the Lord was 
with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. 

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed 
thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of 
p^ Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed 

Defeats thing : and the anger of the Lord was kindled against 
^^^^ the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from 

Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of 



JOSHUA 189 

Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, ^^Go up and view the 
country. '^ And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they 
returned to Joshua, and said unto him, ^^Let not all the people 
go up ; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite 
Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are 
but few.'' So there went up thither of the people about three 
thousand men: and they fled before the man of Ai. And the 
men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they 
chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and 
smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the 
people melted, and became as water. 

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his 
face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the 
elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. Sin 

And Joshua said, ^^Alas, O Lord God, wherefore in Israel 
hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us 
into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us ? would to God we 
had been content, and dwelt on the other side of Jordan! O 
Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before 
their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of 
the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut oflE 
our name from the earth: and what w^ilt thou do unto thy 
great name?'' And the Lord said unto Joshua, *^Get thee up; 
wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, 
and they have also transgressed my covenant which I com- 
manded them: for they have even taken of the accursedr thing, 
and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put 
it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel 
could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs 
before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither wiU 
I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from 
among you." 

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel 



190 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

by their tribes ; and the tribe of Judah was taken : and he brought 
the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and 
he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi 
was taken: and he brought his household man by man; and 
Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of 
the tribe of Judah, was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, 
* * My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and 
make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast 
done; hide it not from me." And Achan answered Joshua, 
and said, '* Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of 
Israel, and thus and thus have I done: when I saw among the 
spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels 
of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I 
coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the 
earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.'' 

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, 
behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they 
Achan took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought 

Stoned them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of 
Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. And Joshua, and 
all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, 
and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his 
daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his 
tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley 
of Achor. And Joshua said, '^ Why hast thou troubled us ? the 
Lord shall trouble thee this day.'' And all Israel stoned him with 
stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them 
with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones 
unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his 
anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called. The 
valley of Achor, unto this day. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, '^Fear not, neither be thou 
dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, and 



JOSHUA 191 

go up to Ai : see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and 
his people, and his city, and his land: and thou shalt do to Ai 
and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only 
the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for 
a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city 
behind it." 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, '^Sfretch out the spear that 
is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand." 
And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had ^. Taken 
in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose by 

quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as ^ ^^^ 

he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, 
and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. And when the 
men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke 
of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to 
flee this way or that way : and the people that fled to the wilder- 
ness turned back upon the pursuers. And when Joshua and 
all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the 
smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew 
the men of Ai. And the other issued out of the city against 
them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, 
and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let 
none of them remain or escape. And the king of Ai they took 
alive, and brought him to Joshua. And it came to pass, when 
Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in 
the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when 
they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were 
consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote 
it Avith the edge of the sword. And so it was, that all that fell 
that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even 
all the men of Ai. For Joshua drew not his hand back, where- 
with he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed 
all the inhabitants of Ai. 



192 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua 
had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work wilily, and went 
The Crafty and made as if they had been ambassadors, and 
Gibeonites iqq^ old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, 
old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon 
their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of 
their provision was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua 
unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of 
Israel, ^^We be come from a far country: now therefore make 
ye a league with us/' And the men of Israel said unto the 
Hivites, ^^Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we 
make a league with you?'' And they said unto Joshua, ^'We 
are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, '^Who are 
ye? and from whence come ye?" And they said unto him, 
^ ^ From a very far country thy servants are come because of the 
natae of the Lord thy God : for we have heard the fame of him, 
and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings 
of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of 
Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country 
spake to us, saying, ^Take victuals with you for the journey, and 
g'o to meet them, and say unto them, ^^We are your servants: 
therefore now make ye a league with us." This our bread we 
took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day 
we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, 
and it is mouldy: and these bottles of wine, which we filled, 
were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our gar- 
ments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very 
long journey.'" And the men took of their victuals, and 
asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. And Joshua 
made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let 
them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto 
them. 



JOSHUA 193 

And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had 
made a league with them, that they heard that they were their 
neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. And Joshua 
Joshua called for them, and he spake unto th^^m, Curses the 
saying, ^'Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, ^ eoni es 
*We are very far from you'; when ye dwell among us? Now 
therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed 
from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water 
for the house of my God.'' And they answered Joshua, and 
said, ^^ Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the 
Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all 
the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from be- 
fore you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of 
you, and have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in 
thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto 
us, do." 

And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand 
of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua 
made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for 
the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this 
day, in the place which he should choo.se. 

Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem 
had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed 
it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had 
done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of 
Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; 
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great 
city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater 
than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. Wherefore 
Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of 
Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia 
king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, ^^Come 
up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it 



194 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel." 
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, 
the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, 
the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, 
they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made 
war against it. 

And the men of Gibeon sent imto Joshua to the camp to 
Gilgal, saying, ^^ Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come 
up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of 
the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together 
against us." So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the 
people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, '^Fear them not: for I have 
delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them 
stand before thee." Joshua therefore came xmto them suddenly, 
and went up from Gilgal all night. And the Lord discomfited 
them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at 
Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to 
Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were 
in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great 
stones from heaven upon them imto Azekah, and they died: 
they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the 
children of Israel slew with the sword. 

Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord 
delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and 
The Sun ^^ ^^^^ "^ ^^ sight of Israel, *'Sun, stand thou 
and Moon still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the 
Stand StiU ^^ji^y ^f Ajalonl" And the sun stood still, 
and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged 
themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the 
book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of 
heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And 



JOSHUA 195 

there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord 
hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for 
Israel. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, imto the 
camp to Qilgal. 

And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given 
rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua 
waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called Joshua's 
for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their Parting 
heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, ^^ ^ 

and said unto them, ^*I am old and stricken in age: and ye have 
seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto aU these nations 
because of you: for the Lord your God is he that hath fought 
for you. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations 
that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, 
with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea 
westward. And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from 
before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall 
possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto 
you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all 
that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not 
aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; that ye come 
not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither 
make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by 
them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves imto them: but 
cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. 
For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and 
strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before 
you imto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: 
for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath 
promised you. Take good heed therefore unto your selves, 
that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go 
back, and cleave imto the remnant of these nations, even these 
that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them. 



196 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more ■ 
drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall 
be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and 
thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which 
'the Lord your God hath given you. 

''And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: 
and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not 
one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord 
your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, 
and not one thing hath failed thereof. Therefore it shall come 
to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the 
Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon 
you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this 
good land which the Lord your God hath given you. When ye 
have trangressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he 
commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and 
bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be 
kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the 
good land which he hath given unto you.'' 

And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and 
called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their 
judges, and for their officers; and they presented 
Reviews themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all 
IsraePs the people, ''Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 
'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood 
in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father 
of Nachor : and they served other gods. And I took your father 
Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him through- 
out all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave 
3iim Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac, Jacob and Esau; and I 
;gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his 
children went down into Egypt. I sent Moses also and Aaron, 
and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among 



JOSHUA 197 

them: and afterward I brought you out. And I brought your 
fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyp- 
tians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen 
unto the Red sea. And when they cried unto the Lord, he put 
darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea 
upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what 
I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long 
season. And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which 
dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and 
I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; 
and I destroyed them from before you. Then Balak the son 
of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and 
sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: but I 
would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: 
so I delivered you out of his hand. And ye went over Jordan, 
and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against 
you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and 
the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; 
and I delivered them into your hand. And I sent the hornet 
before you, which drave them out from before you, even the 
two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with 
thy bow. And I have given you a land for which ye did not 
labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of 
the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.' 

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity 
and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served 
on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the 
Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose 
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your 
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the 
gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and 
my house, we will serve the Lord.'' 

And the people answered and said, ^'God forbid that we 



198 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; for the Lord our 
God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land 
of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great 
signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we 
went, and among all the people through whom we passed: and 
the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the 
Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve 
the Lord; for he is our God." 

And Joshua said imto the people, *' Ye cannot serve the Lord: 
for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive 
Israel ^^^^ transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the 

Covenants Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and 
wit Jos ua j^ y^^ hMTt, and consume you, after that he hath 
done you good." And the people said unto Joshua, ^^Nay; 
but we will serve the Lord." And Joshua said imto the people, 
**Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you 
the Lord, to serve him." And they said, ^*We are witnesses." 
^'Now therefore put away," said he, ^^ the strange gods which are 
among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel." 
And the people said unto Joshua, '^The Lord our God will we 
serve, and his voice will we obey." So Joshua made a covenant 
with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordi- 
nance in Shechem. 

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, 
and took a great stone, and set it up there imder an oak, that 
was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said imto all 
the people, '^Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for 
it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake imto 
us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your 
God." So Joshua let the people depart, every man imto his 
inheritance. 

And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son 
of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and 



JOSHUA 199 

ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his 
inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, 
on the north side of the hill of Gaash. And Israel Joshua 
served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the ^^^^ 

days of the elders that overiived Joshua, and which had 
known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel. 



[Joshua i, 1-7, 9; ii; iii, 1-3, 14-17; iv, 1-9; vi; vii, 

1-12, 16-26; viii, I, 2, 18-26; ix, 3-16,22-27; X, 1-15; 

xxiii; xxiv, 1-3 1.] 



200 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 



THE VICTORY OF BARAK AND DEBORAH 

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the 
Lord, when Ehud was dead. And the Lord sold them into 
Israel the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in 

Oppressed Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which 
dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel 
cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; 
and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged 
Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of 
Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and 
the children of Israel came" up to her for judgment. And she 
sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh- 
naphtali, and said unto him, ^'Hath not the Lord God of Israel 
commanded, saying, ' Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and 
take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali 
and of the children of Zebulun ? And I will draw unto thee to 
the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his 
chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine 
hand.'" And Barak said unto her, '^If thou wilt go with me, 
then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not 
go." And she said, ^ ^ I will surely go with thee ; notwithstanding 
the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for 
the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." And 
Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he 
went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went 
up with him. Now Heber the Kenite, which was 
Deborah of the children of Hobab, the father in law of Moses, 
Go to Meet had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched 
his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by 
Kedesh. And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam 



THE VICTORY OF BARAK AND DEBORAH 201 

was gone up to mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his 
chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people 
that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the 
river of Kishon. And Deborah said unto Barak, ^^Up; for this 
is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine 
hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee?" So Barak went 
down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 
And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all 
his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that 
Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fied away on his feet. 
But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, 
unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera 
fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man 
left. 

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the 
wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin 
the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. jael 

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto ^^^^ Sisera 
him, ^^Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not." And when 
he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with 
a mantle. And he said unto her, '^Give me, I pray thee, a 
little water to drink; for I am thirsty." And she opened a bottle 
of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Again he said 
imto her, ^^ Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when 
any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, ^ Is there any 
man here?' that thou shalt say, 'No.'" Then Jael Heber's 
wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, 
and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, 
and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and 
weary. So he died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, 
Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, * ' Come, and I 
will shew thee the man whom thou seekest." And when he 
came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was 



202 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

in his temples. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of 
Canaan before the children of Israel. 

And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and pre- 
vailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had de- 
stroyed Jabin king of Canaan. 



[Judges iv.J 



GIDEON 203 



GIDEON 



And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: 
and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven 
years. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the 
Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. 

And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak 
which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite; 
and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine- AnAneel 
press, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel Visits 

of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, ^ ®^^ 

"The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.'' And 
Gideon said unto him, *^0 my Lord, if the Lord be with us, 
why then is all this befallen us ? and where be all his miracles 
which our fathers told us of, saying, *Did not the Lord bring us 
up from Egypt ? ' but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and de- 
livered us into the hands of the Midianites." 

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, ^^Go in this thy 
might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midian- 
ites: have not I sent thee?'' And he said unto him, ^*0 my 
Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel ? behold, my family is poor 
in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And 
the Lord said unto him, ** Surely I will be with thee, and thou 
shalt smite the Midianites as one man." And he said unto 
him, *^If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me 
a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, 
imtil I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it 
before thee." And he said, ^^I will tarry until thou come again." 

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened 
cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he 
put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him Food 

under the oak, and presented it. And the angel of Consumed 
God said unto him, '^Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, 



204 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth." And he 
did so. Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the 
staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the un- 
leavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and con- 
sumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of 
the Lord departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived 
that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, ^^Alas, O Lord 
God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face." 
And the Lord said unto him, ^^ Peace be unto thee; fear not: 
thou shalt not die.'' Then Gideon built an altar there unto the 
Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom : unto this day it is yet in 
Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 

And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto 
him, ^^Take thy father's young bullock, even the second 
Gideon bullock of seven years old, and throw down the 

Throws altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the 
down the _ . , . i i -i i , i 

Altar of grove that is by it: and build an altar unto the 

Saal Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the 

ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a 

burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou 

shalt cut down." Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, 

and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because 

he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, 

that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. 

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, 
behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut 
down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon 
the altar that was built. And they said one to another, ^^Who 
hath done this thing?" And when they enquired and asked, 
they said, '^Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing." 

Theia the men of the city said unto Joash, ^* Bring out thy 
son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of 
Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it." 



GIDEON 205 

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, '* Will ye plead 
for Baal? will ye save him? He that will plead for him, let 
him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let 
him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar." 
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, ^^Let 
Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his 
altar/' 

Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children 
of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched 
in the valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon 
Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered 
after him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; 
who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto 
Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came 
up to meet them. 

And Gideon said unto God, ^Tf thou wilt save Israel by mine 
hand, as thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in 
the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and Xhe 

it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know Fleece 

that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said." 
And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust 
the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a 
bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, ^^Let not thine 
anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me 
prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be 
dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be 
dew." And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the 
fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. 

Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were 
with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: 
so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side 
of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. And the 
Lord said unto Gideon, *^The people that are with thee are 



206 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest 
Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'Mine own hand 
hath saved me.' Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears 
of the people, saying, 'Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let 
him return and depart early from mount Gilead.' " And there 
returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there 
remained ten thousand. 

And the Lord said imto Gideon, ''The people are yet too 
many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for 
The Three ^^^ there: and it shall be, that of whom I say 
Hundred unto thee, 'This shall go with thee,' the same 

osen gj^^jj g^ ^j^ \h.tt\ and of whomsoever I say 
imto thee, 'This shall not go with thee,' the same shall not 
go." So he brought down the people unto the water: and 
the Lord said unto Gideon, "Every one that lappeth of 
the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set 
by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his 
knees to drink." And the number of them lapped, putting 
their hand to their mouth, were three himdred men: but all 
the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink 
water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, "By the three hvmdred 
men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites 
into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man imto 
his place." So the people took victuals in their hand, and their 
trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man imto his 
tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of 
Midian was beneath him in the valley. 

And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said imto 
him, "Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered 
it into thine hand. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with 
Phurah thy servant down to the host: and thou shalt hear what 
they say; and afterwards shall thine hands be strengthened to 
go down unto the host." Then went he down with Phurah his 



GIDEON 207 

servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 
And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of 
the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; 
and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea- 
side for multitude. 

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told 
a dream unto his fellow, and said, '* Behold, I dreamed a dream, 
and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host ^j^^ 

of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that Soldier's 
it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along." , ^ream 
And his fellow answered and said, '^This is nothing else save 
the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into 
his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host." 

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, 
and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned 
into the host of Israel, and said, ''Arise; for the Lord hath 
delivered into your hand the host of Midian." And he divided 
the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a 
trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps 
within the pitchers. And he said imto them, ''Look on me, 
and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of 
the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow 
with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the 
trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, 'The 
sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.'" 

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came 
unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle 
watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and The 

they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that Victory 
were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trum- 
pets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left 
hands, and the tnmapets in their right hands to blow withal: 
and they cried, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." 



208 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: 
and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred 
blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against 
his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to 
Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, 
unto Tabbath. And the men of Israel gathered themselves 
together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manas- 
seh, and pursued after the Midianites. 

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, 
saying, *^Come down against the Midianites, and take before 
them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan." Then all the 
men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the 
waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. And they took two princes 
of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon 
the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, 
and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb 
to Gideon on the other side Jordan. 



[Judges vi, I, 6, 11-40 and vii.] 



ABIMELECH AND JOTHAM 209 

ABIMELECH AND JOTHAM 

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the 
children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, 
and made Baal-berith their god. And the children of Israel 
remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them 
out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: neither 
shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gid- 
eon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto 
Israel. 

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto 

his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all 

the family of the house of his mother's father, say- 

ccc^ A T ' 1 rill Abimelech 

mg, bpeak, 1 pray you, m the ears of all the men Desires to 

of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that Become 
all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten 
persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you ? Remember 
also thati am your bone and yourflesh." And his mother's breth- 
ren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these 
words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they 
said, ^^He is our brother." And they gave him threescore and 
ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith 
Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 
And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his 
brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten per- 
sons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest 
son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. And all the men 
of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and 
went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that 
was in Shechem. 

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the 
top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and 
said unto them, *' Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, 



210 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a 
time to anoint a king over them; and they said imto the olive 
Jotham's tree, ^ Reign thou over us/ But the olive tree said 
Fable ^^to them, * Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by 

me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the 
trees?' And the trees said to the fig tree, ^Come thou, and 
reign over us.' But the fig tree said unto them, 'Should I 
forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted 
over the trees?' Then said the trees unto the vine, Xome 
thou, and reign over us.'. And the vine said unto them, * Should 
I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be. 
promoted over the trees?' Then said all the trees unto the 
bramble, Xome thou, and reign over us.' And the bramble 
said unto the trees, 'If in truth ye anoint me king over you, 
then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let 
fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' 
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye 
have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with 
Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according 
to the deserving of his hands; (for my father fought for you, 
and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand 
of Midian: and ye are risen up against my father's house this 
day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon 
one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidser- 
vant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 
if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and 
with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let 
him also rejoice in you: but if not, let fire come out from Abime- 
lech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; 
and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the 
house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." 

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt 
there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 



ABIMELECH AND JOTHAM 211 

AVhen Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, then 
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of 
Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacher- shechem 
ously with Abimelech: that the cruelty done to the Defies 

threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, ^^^ ®^ 
and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which 
slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him 
in the kiUing of his brethren. And the men of Shechem set 
liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they 
robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told 
Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, 
and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechein put their 
confidence in him. And they went out into the fields, and 
gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, 
arid went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, 
and cursed Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed said, ^* Who 
is Abimelech, and who is Shechem that we should serve him ? 
is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his ofl&cer? Serve 
the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we 
serve him ? And would to God this people were imder my hand ! 
then would I remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, 
** Increase thine army, and come out." 

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of 
Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. And he sent 
messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, ^^ Behold, Gaal the 
son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, 
they fortify the city against thee. Now therefore up by night, 
thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 
and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sim is up, 
thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when 
he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then 
may est thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion." 

And Abimelech rose up, and^all the people that were with 



212 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four 
companies. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and 
stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech 
rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying 
in wait. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, 
"Behold, there come people down from the top of the 
mountains.'' And Zebul said unto him, *^Thou seest the 
shadow of the mountain as if they were men." And Gaal 
spake again and ^aid, "See there come people down by 
the middle of the land, and another company come along by 
the plain of Meonenim." Then said Zebul unto him, "Where 
is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, ^Who is Abimelech, 
that we should serve him?' Is not this the people that thou 
hast despised? Go out, I pray now, and fight with them." 

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought 
with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him, and he fied be- 
Gaal Is ^^^^ hmi, and many were overthrown and wounded, 
Driven even unto the entering of the gate. And Abime- 

^ lech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal 

and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out 
into the field ; and they told Abimelech. And he took the people, 
and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the 
field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out 
of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. And 
Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed for- 
ward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city : and the 
two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the 
fields, and slew them. And Abimelech fought against the city 
all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was 
therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, 
they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. And 



ABIMELECH AND JOTHAM 213 

it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem 
were gathered together. And Abimelech gat him up to mount 
Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abime- 
lech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the 
trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the 
people that were with him, ^^What ye have seen me do, make 
haste, and do as I have done." And all the people likewise 
cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and 
put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so 
that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a 
thousand men and women. 

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against 
Thebez, and took it. But there was a strong tower within the 
city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of 
the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the , 
tower. And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against 
it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to bum it with 
fire. And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon 
Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. Then he called 
hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto 
him, ^^Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, 
* A woman slew him.' " And his young man thrust him through, 
and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech , 
was dead, they departed^every man imto his place. 

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he 
did imto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the 
evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: 
and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of JerubbaaL 



[Judges viii, 33-35 and ix.] 



214 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

JEPHTHAH 

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour. 
And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, 
Tephthah ^^^ ^^^ thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, 
Thrust ^^Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house." 

Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt 
in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to 
Jephthah, and went out with him. 

And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of 
Ammon made war against Israel. And it was so, that when the 
children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of 
Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob : and they 
said unto Jephthah, ^^Come, and be our captain, that we may 
fight with the children of Ammon." 

And Jephthah said imto the elders of Gilead, *^Did ye not 
hate me, and expel me out of my father's house ? and why are 
Jephthah 7^ come unto me now when ye are in distress?" 
Recalled And the elders of Gilead said imto Jephthah, 
'* Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou may est go 
with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our 
head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." And Jephthah said 
unto the elders of Gilead, ^^If ye bring me home again to fight 
against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them 
before me, shall I be your head?" And the elders of Gilead 
said unto Jephthah, ^^The Lord be witness between us, if we 
do not so according to thy words." Then Jephthah went with 
-the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain 
over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord 
in Mizpeh. 

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he 
passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of 
Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the 



JEPHTHAH 215 

children of Ammon. And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the 
Lord, and said, *'If thou shalt without fail dehver the chil- 
dren of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, jephthah's 
that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my Vow 

house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of 
Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for 
a burnt offering." 

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to 
fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come jephthah 
to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain Victorious 
of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children 
of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh imto his house, and, behold, 
his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with 
dances: and she was his only child; beside her he Tgphthah's 
had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass. Daughter 
when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Sacrificed 
'* Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou 
art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth 
unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." And she said unto him, 
''My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do 
to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; 
forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine 
enemies, even of the children of Ammon." And she said unto 
her father, *^Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two 
months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and 
bewail my virginity, I and my fellows." And he said, ^*Go." 
And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her 
companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned 
unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which 
he had vowed. xAnd it was a custom in Israel, that the daughters 



216 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the 
Gileadite four days in a year. 

And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and 
went northward, and said unto Jephthah, ^^ Wherefore passedst 
thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst 
not call us to go with thee ? We will bum thine house upon 
thee with fire." And Jephthah said unto them, *^I and my 
people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and 
when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. 
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in 
my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, 
and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are 
ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?" 

Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and 
fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, 
EDhraim- because they said, *^Ye Gileadites are fugitives of 
ites Over- Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the 
thrown Manassites." And the Gileadites took the passages 
of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when 
those Ephraimites which were escaped said, **Let me go 
over"; and the men of Gilead said unto him, ^^Art thou an 
Ephraimite?" If he said, *^Nay"; then said they unto him, 
''Say now 'Shibboleth'"; and he said 'Sibboleth': for he could 
not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew 
him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of 
the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. 

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah 
the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 



[Judges xi, i-ii, 29-40 and xii, 1-7.] 



SAMSON 217 



SAMSON 



And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the 
Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife had no children. 
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, Samson*s 
and said imto her, ^^ Behold now, thou shalt bear a Birth 

son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink oretoid 

not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any miclean thing: for 
thou shalt bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head : for 
the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: 
and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the 
PhiHstines." 

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, ^'A 
man of God came unto me, and his coxmtenance was like the 
coimtenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him 
not whence he was, neither told he me his name: but he said 
imto me, * Behold, thou shalt bear a son; and now drink no wine 
nor strong drink, neither eat any imclean thing: for the child 
shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his 
death.'" 

Then Manoah entreated the Lord, and said, '^O my Lord, 
let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, 
and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be bom." 
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of 
God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but 
Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman made 
haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, 
"Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came imto me 
the other day." And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, 
and came to the man, and said imto him, '^Art thou the man 
that spakest unto the woman?" And he said, "I am." And 
Manoah said, "Now let thy words come to pass. How shall 
we order the child, and how shall we do unto him ? " And the 



218 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, "Of all that I said unto 
the woman let her beware. She may not eat of anything that 
Cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, 
nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her 
observe." 

And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, * *I pray thee, 
let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee." 
And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, "Though thou 
detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a 
burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord." For Manoah 
knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. And Manoah said 
imto the angel of the Lord, ' ' What is thy name, that when thy 
sayings come to pass we may do thee honour ? " And the angel 
of the Lord said unto him, "Why askest thou thus after my 
name, seeing it is secret ? " 

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it 
upon a rock unto the Lord : and the angel did wondrously ; and 
Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the 
flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel 
of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah 
and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 
But the angel of the Lord did no more appear unto Manoah 
and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of 
the Lord. And Manoah said unto his wife, "We shall surely 
die, because we have seen God." But his wife said unto him, 
*'If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received 
a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would 
he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time 
have told us such things as these." 

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: 
and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the spirit 
of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan 
between Zorah and Eshtaol. 



SAMSON 219 

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman of 
Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, 
and told his father and his mother, and said, *'I have 
seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the and the 
Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife/' Woman of 
Then his father and his mother said unto him, ''Is 
there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, 
or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the 
imcircumcised Philistines ? '' And Samson said unto his father, 
*' Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well/' But his father and 
his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an 
occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines 
had dominion over Israel. 

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to 
Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, 
a young lion roared against him. And the spirit of the Lord 
came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have 
rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not 
his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down, 
and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 
And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside 
to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm 
of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. And he took 
thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his 
father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but 
he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass 
of the Hon. 

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made 
there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it came to 
pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions 
to be with him. And Samson said unto them, "I will now 
put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me 
within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will 



220 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: but if 
ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and 
thirty change of garments." And they said unto him, ^'Put 
forth thy riddle, that we may hear it/' And he said unto them, 
** Out of eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth 
sweetness." And they could not in three days expound the 
riddle. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto 
Samson's wife, '^Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto 
us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with 
fire: have ye called us to take that we have ? is it not so ? " And 
Samson's wife wept before him, and said, ^^Thou dost but hate 
me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the 
children of my people, and hast not told it me." And he said 
unto her, ^^ Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, 
and shall I tell it thee?" And she wept before him the seven 
days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh 
day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she 
told the riddle to the children of her people. And the men of 
the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went 
down, '^ What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than 
a lion ? " And he said unto them, ^ ' If ye had not ploughed with 
my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle." 

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down 
to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, 
and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the 
riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his 
father's house. But Samson's wife was given to his companion, 
whom he had used as his friend. 

But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat 
harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, 
**I will go in to my wife into the chamber." But her 
father would not suffer him to go in. And her father said, 



SAMSON 221 

'*I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore 

I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer 
than she? Take her, I pray thee, instead of her." And Sam- 
son said concerning them, ^^Now shall I be more blameless 
than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure." 

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took 
firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the 

midst between two tails. And when he had set the 

II rill -1 T Samson 
brands on fire, he let them go mto the standmg Burns the 

com of the Philistines, and burnt up both the ^^f^ ^^ ^® 
, , , , T ,. .11. Pliilistmes 

shocks, and also the standmg com, with the vine- 
yards and olives. Then the Philistines said, ^^Who hath 
done this?" And they answered, ^^ Samson, the son in law 
of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her 
to his companion." 

And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father 
with fire. And Samson said unto them, *^ Though ye have done 
this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease." 
And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and 
he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. 

Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and 
spread themselves in Lehi. And the men of Judah said, ^^ Why 
are ye come up against us?" And they answered, '^To bind 
Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us." 
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock 
Etam, and said to Samson, ^ ^ Knowest thou not that the Philistines 
are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us?" 
And he said imto them, ^^As they did unto me, so have I done 
unto them." And they said unto him, ^^We are come down to 
bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Phil- 
istines." And Samson said unto them, ^' Swear unto me, that 
ye will not fall upon me yourselves." And they spake unto him, 
saying, ''No; but we will bind thee fast and dehver thee into 



222 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

their hand: but surely we will not kill thee." And they bound 
him with two new cords, and brought hind up from the rock. 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against 
him: and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and 
Samson ^^ cords that were upon his arms became as flax 
Slays the that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from 
with^the^^ oj0f his hands. And he found a new jawbone of 
Jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and 
^^ ^^ slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, 

'*With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the 
jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men." And it came 
to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast 
away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath- 
lehi. And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, 
''Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy 
servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hands 
of the uncircumcised ? " But God clave an hollow place that 
was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he 
had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he 
called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this 
day. And he judged Israel in the days of the PhiUstines twenty 
years. 

Then went Samson to Gaza. And it was told the Gazites, 

saying, ''Samson is come hither." And they compassed him 

in, and laid wait for him all the nisrht in the srate of 
Samson / . , .,11?, . ..-r 

Carries off the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, 'In 

the Gate the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him." And 
Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, 
and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and 
went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoul- 
ders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before 
Hebron. 

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the 



SAMSON 223 

valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the 
Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, ** Entice him, 
and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by Samson 
what means we may prevail against him, that we and 

may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee ^ 

every one of us eleven himdred pieces of silver." And Dehlah 
said to Samson, ^^Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great 
strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be boimd to afflict 
thee." And Samson said. unto her, ^^If they bind me with 
seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, 
and be as another man." Then the lords of the Philistines 
brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, 
and she boun^i him with them. Now there were men lying in 
wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, 
**The Phihstines be upon thee, Samson." And he brake the 
withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. 
So his strength was not known. 

And Delilah said imto Samson, '* Behold, thou hast mocked 
me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou 
mightest be boimd." And he said imto her, **If they bind me 
fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be 
weak, and be as another man." Delilah therefore took new 
ropes, and bound him therewith, and said imto him, '^The 
Philistines be upon thee, Samson." And there were liers in 
wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off 
his arms like a thread. 

And Delilah said unto Samson, *' Hitherto thou has mocked 
me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be 
bound." And he said unto her, ^'If thou weavest the seven 
locks of my head with the web." And she fastened it with the 
pin, and said unto him, **The Philistines be upon thee, Samson." 
And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin 
of the beam, and with the web. 



224 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And she said unto him, **How canst thou say, I love thee, 
when thine heart is not with me ? Thou hast mocked me these 
three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength 
lieth.'^ And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with 
her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed imto death; 
that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, ^^ There hath 
not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazarite 
unto God from my mother^s womb: if I be shaven, then my 
strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like 
any other man.'' And when Delilah saw that he had told her 
all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, 
saying, ^^Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his 
heart.'' Then the lords of the Philistines came; up unto her, 
and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep 
upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him 
to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict 
him, and his strength went from him. And she said, '^The 
Philistines be upon thee, Samson." And he awoke out of his 
sleep, and said, *^I will go out as at other times before, and 
shake myself." And he wist not that the Lord was departed 
from him. 

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and 
brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of 
brass; and he did grind in the prison house. Howbeit the hair 
of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. And the 
lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a 
great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they 
said, **Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our 
hand." And when the people saw him, they praised their god: 
for they said, ^^Our god hath delivered into our hands our 
enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many 
of us." 

And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they 



SAMSON 225 

said, ^^ Call for Samson, that he may make us sport/' And they 
called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them 
sport : and they set him between the pillars. And Samson 
Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand. Pulls the 
*' Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon -p^^j^^^^g 
the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.'' Philistines 
Now the house was full of men and women; and ^^ ^®^ * 
all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon 
the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld 
while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the Lord, 
and said, ^^O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and 
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may 
be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." And 
Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the 
house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his 
right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, 
''Let me die with the Philistines." And he bowed himself with 
all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all 
the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at 
his death were more than they which he slew in his life. 

Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, 
and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between 
Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. 
And he judged Israel twenty years. 



[Judges xiii, 2-25 and xiv-xvi.] 



226 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

RUTH 

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that 
there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth- 
. lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, 

he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name 
of the man was EHmelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and 
the name of his two sons Mahlon and ChiHon, Ephrathites of 
Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, 
and continued there. And EUmelech Naomi's husband died; 
and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives 
of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and 
the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten 
years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and 
the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might 
return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the 
Ruth country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his 

Cleaves people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went 
unto aomi j^^^^ ^^^ ^f ^^ place where she was, and her two 
daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return 
unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daugh- 
ters in law, ^^Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord 
deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with 
me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you 
in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them; and they 
lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, ^ ^ Surely 
we will return with thee unto thy people." And Naomi said, 
"Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me?" And 
they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her 
mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, '^Be- 
hold, thy sister in law is gone back imto her people, and unto 
her gods: return thou after thy sister in law." And Ruth said, 



RUTH 227 

^ ' Entreat me not to leave thee, 
Or to return from following after thee: 
For whither thou goest, I will go; 
And where thou lodgest, I will lodge: 
Thy people shall be my people, 
And thy God my God: 
Where thou diest, will I die, 
And there will I be buried: 
The Lord do so to me. 
And more also, 
If ought but death part thee and me.'' 

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, 
then she left speaking unto her. 

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it 
came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the 
city was moved about them, and they said, ^^Is this Naomi 

Naomi?" And she said unto them, ^^Call me not Returns 
Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly 
with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home 
again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath 
testified against me, and the Almighty hath afHicted me?" 
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter 
in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab : 
and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest. 

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man 
of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 
And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, ^^Let me now go 
to the field, and glean ears of com after him in whose sight I 
shall find grace." And she said unto her, '^ Go, my daughter." 
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the 
reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging 
unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 



228 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the 
reapers, ^^The Lord be with you.'' And they answered him, 
"The Lord bless thee." Then said Boaz unto his servant that 
was set over the reapers, "Whose damsel is this?" And the 
servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, "It 
is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of 
the country of Moab: and she said, 'I pray you, let me glean 
and gather after the reapers among the sheaves': so she came, 
and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she 
tarried a Uttle in the house." 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, "Hearest thou not, mydaughter } 
Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but 
Boaz abide here fast by my maidens: let thine eyes be 

Favours on the field that they do reap, and go thou after 
them: have I not charged the young men that they 
shall not touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto the 
vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." 
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and 
said unto him, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that 
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" 
And Boaz answered and said unto her, "It hath fully been 
shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law 
since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy 
father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art 
come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The 
Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of 
the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to 
trust." Then she said, "Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; 
for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken 
friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one 
of thine handmaidens." And Boaz said unto her, "At meal- 
time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel 
in the vinegar." 



RUTH 229 

And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched 
com, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. And when she 
was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, 
' ' Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not : 
and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and 
leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.'* 
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had 
gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 

And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother 
in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and 
gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. And 
her mother in law said unto her, ^^ Where hast thou gleaned 
to-day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did 
take knowledge of thee." And she shewed her mother in law 
with whom she had wrought, and said, ^^The man's name with 
whom I wrought to-day is Boaz." And Naomi said unto her 
daughter in law, ^^ Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not 
left off his kindness to the living and to the dead." And Naomi 
said unto her, ^*The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next 
kinsmen." And Ruth the Moabitess said, '^He said unto me 
also, ^ Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have 
ended all my harvest.'" And Naomi said unto Ruth her 
daughter in law, ^^It is good, my daughter, that thou go out 
with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field." 
So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end 
of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her 
mother in law. 

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, ' ^ My daughter, 
shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 
And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose Naomi 



maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley Instructs 
to-night in the threshingfloor. Wash thyself there- ^ 

fore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get 



230 OLD TESTAMENl^ STORIES 

thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the 
man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it 
shall be, wheli he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place 
where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, 
and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.'* 
And she said unto her, ^^AU that thou sayeth unto me I will 
do." 

Then she went down unto the floor, and did according to all 
that her mother in law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten 
Ruth ^^^ drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to 

Goes to lie down at the end of the heap of corn : and she 
^^^ came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her 

down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was 
afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his 
feet. And he said, ^^Who art thou?" And she answered, *^I 
am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thine skirt over thine 
handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." And he said, ^^Blessed 
be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more 
kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as 
thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And 
now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou 
requirest : for all the city of my people doth know that thou art 
a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I am thy near 
kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry 
this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform 
unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's 
part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then 
will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie 
down until the morning." 

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up 
before one could know another. And he said, ^^Let it not be 
known that a woman came into the floor." Also he said, 
"Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it." And 



RUTH 231 

when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid 
it on her: and she went into the city. 

And when she came to her mother in law, she said, ^*Who 
art thou, my daughter ? " And she told her all that the man had 
done to her. And she said, ** These six measures of barley 
gave he me; for he said to me, ^ Go not empty unto thy mother 
in law.'" Then said she, *^Sit still, my daughter, until thou 
know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, 
imtil he have finished the thing this day." 

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: 
and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto 
whom he said, '^Ho, such a onel turn aside, sit down 
here." And he turned aside, and sat down. And he 
took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, ^^Sit ye 
down here." And they sat down. And he said unto the 
kinsman, ^^ Naomi, that is come again out of the country of 
Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elime- 
lech's: and I thought to advertise thee, saying, ^Buy it before 
the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people.' If thou 
wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then 
tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside 
thee; and I am after thee." And he said, ^^I will redeem it." 
Then said Boaz, *^What day thou buy est the field of the hand 
of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the 
wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his 
inheritance." And the kinsman said, '^I cannot redeem it for 
myseK, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right 
to thyself; for I cannot redeem it." 

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning 
redeeming and concerning changing, for to con- g 

firm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and Marries 
gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony 
in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, ^^Buy 



232 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

it for thee." So he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said 
unto the elders, and unto all the people, '^Ye are witnesses 
this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all 
that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. More- 
over Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased 
to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his in- 
heritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among 
his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses 
this day.'^ And all the people that were in the gate, and the 
elders, said, ^^We are witnesses." 

**The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house 
Like Rachel and like Leah, 
Which two did build the house of Israel: 
And do thou worthily in Ephratah, 
And be famous in Beth-lehem: 
And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, 
Whom Tamar bare unto Judah, 

Of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young 
woman." 

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and she bare a son. 
And the women said unto Naomi, 

''Blessed be the Lord, 
Which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman. 
That his name may be famous in Israel. 
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, 
And a nourisher of thine old age: 
For thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, 
Which is better to thee than seven sons. 
Hath borne him." 



RUTH 233 

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and 
became nurse unto it. And the women her neigh- _, , 

bours gave it a name, saymg, Ihere is a son bom 
to Naomi''; and they called his name Obed: he is the father 
of Jesse, the father of David. 



[Ruth i, I -I I, 14-22; iii; iv, 17.] 



234 * . OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. 
And the word of the Lord was precious in those days ; there was 
God Calls 110 open vision. And it came to pass at that time, 
Samuel when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes 
began to wax dim, that he could not see; and ere the lamp of 
God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God 
was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the Lord called 
Samuel: and he answered, ^'Here am I.'^ And he ran unto 
EH, and said, ^^Here am I; for thou calledst me.'' And he 
said, ^^I called not; lie down again." And he went and lay 
down. And the Lord called yet again, *^ Samuel.'' And Samuel 
arose and went to Eli, and said, ^^Here am 1\ for thou didst 
call me." And he answered, *^I called not, my son; lie down 
again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was 
the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord 
called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to 
Eli, and said, '^Here am I; for thou didst call me." And Eli 
perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli 
said unto Samuel, ^^ Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, 
that thou shalt say, ^ Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'" 
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord 
came, and stood, and called as at other times, ^^ Samuel, 
Samuel." Then Samuel answered, ** Speak; for thy servant 
heareth." 

And the Lord said to Samuel, ^'Behold, I will do a thing in 
Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall 
The Tudff- ^^^S^^- ^^ ^^^ ^^7 ^ will perform against Eli all 
ment of things which I have spoken concerning his house: 

1 s ouse ^Yitn I begin, I will also make an end. For I have 
told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity 
which he knoweth ; because his sons made themselves vile, and 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 235 

he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the 
house of Eli, that the iniquity of EK's house shall not be purged 
with sacrifice nor offering for ever." 

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of 
the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the 
vision. Then EH called Samuel, and said, ^* Samuel, my son." 
And he answered, ''Here am I." And he said, ''What is the 
thing that the Lord hath said unto thee ? I pray thee hide it 
not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide 
any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee." 
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. 
And he said, "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him 
good." 

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let 
none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan 
even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was estab- Samuel 
lished to be a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord the Prophet 
appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to 
Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. And the word of 
Samuel came to all Israel. 

Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and 
pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in 
Aphek. And the Philistines put themselves in array 
against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was 
smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army 
in the field about four thousand men. And when the people 
were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Wherefore 
hath the Lord smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let 
us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto 
us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the 
hand of our enemies." 

So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from 
thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwell- 



236 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

eth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni 
and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 
And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, 
all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they 
said, ^^ What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp 
Eli's Sons of the Hebrews ? " And they understood that the ark 
Killed of the Lord was come into the camp. And the Phil- 

istines were afraid, for they said, ^^ God is come into the camp.'' 
And they said, *^Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a 
thing heretofore. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the 
hand of these mighty Gods ? these are the Gods that smote the 
Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, 
and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not 
servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you : quit your- 
selves hke men, and fight." And the PhiHstines fought, and 
Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and 
there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty 
thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the 
two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 

And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came 
to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth 
Eli is upon his head. And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon 

Killed a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart 

trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into 
the city, and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard 
the noise of the crying, he said, ^^What meaneth the noise of 
this tumult?" And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 
Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were 
dim, that he could not see. And the man said unto Eli, ^^I am 
he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army." 
And he said, ^^ What is there done, my son ? " And the messen- 
ger answered and said, ^^ Israel is fled before the Philistines, 



• SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 237 

and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, 
and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and 
the ark of God is taken.'' And it came to pass, when he made 
mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat back- 
ward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: 
for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel 
forty years. 

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made 
his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn 
was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they Israel 

were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked Demands 
not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and ^ ^^ 
took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of 
Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto 
Ramah, and said unto him, ''Behold, thou art old, and thy 
sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like 
all the nations." 

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, ''Give us 
a king to judge us.'' And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And 
the Lord said unto Samuel, "Hearken unto the voice of the 
people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected 
thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over 
them. According to all the works which they have done since 
the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this 
day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, 
so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their 
voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them 
the manner of the king that shall reign over them." 

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people 
that asked of him a king. And he said, ' ' This will be the manner 
of the king that shall reign over you: He will take Samuel 
your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his Protests 
chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before 



238 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, 
and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, 
and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, 
and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daugh- 
ters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your 
oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, 
and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take 
your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest 
young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will 
take the tenth of your sheep : and ye shall be his servants. And 
ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall 
have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day." 

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; 
and they said, *^Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we 
also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge 
us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." And Samuel 
heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the 
ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ^^ Hearken 
unto their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said 
imto the men of Israel, *'Go ye every man unto his city." 

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, 
the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the 
Saul Seeks ^^^ ^^ Aphiah, -a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 
His Father's And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice 
^^^^ young man, and a goodly: and there was not among 

the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoul- 
ders and upward he was higher than any of the people. And the 
asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul 
his son, ''Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, 
go seek the asses." And he passed through mount Ephraim, 
and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 239 

not: then they passed through the land of Shahm, and there 
they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benja- 
mites, but they found them not. 

And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to 
his servant that was with him, ^^Come, and let us return; lest 
my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.'' 
And he said unto him, ^^ Behold now, there is in this city a man 
of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh 
surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew 
us our way that we should go." Then said Saul to his servant, 
*'But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the 
bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring 
to the man of God : what have we ? " And the servant answered 
Saul again, and said, ^^ Behold, I have here at hand the fourth 
part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, 
to tell us our way." (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went 
to enquire of God, thus he spake. Come, and let us go to the 
seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called 
a Seer.) Then said Saul to his servant, '^ Well said; come, let 
us go." So they went imto the city where the man of God was. 

And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young 
maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, **Is the 
seer here?" And they answered them, and said, ^^He is; 
behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to-day 
to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to-day in the 
high place: as soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straight- 
way find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the 
people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sac- 
rifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore 
get you up; for about this time ye shall find him." And they 
went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, 
behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high 
place. 



240 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul 
came, saying, '^To-morrow about this time I will send thee a 

Samuel ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ Benjamin, and thou shalt 
Entertains anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that 
he may save my people out of the hand of the 
Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their 
cry is come unto me." And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord 
said unto him, *^ Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! 
this same shall reign over my people." Then Saul drew near to 
Samuel in the gate, and said, ^'Tell me, I pray thee, where the 
seer's house is." And Samuel answered Saul, and said, ^^I am 
the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat 
with me to-day; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell 
thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine asses that were 
lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are 
found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel ? Is it not on 
thee, and on all thy father's house?" And Saul answered and 
said, "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of 
Israel ? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe 
of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?" 

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them 
into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among 
them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. And 
Samuel said unto the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave 
thee, of which I said unto thee, ' Set it by thee.' " And the cook 
took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it 
before Saul. And Samuel said, "Behold that which is left! 
set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept 
for thee since I said, ^I have invited the people.' " So Saul did 
eat with Samuel that day. 

And when they were come down from the high place into 
the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 241 

the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, 
''Up, that I may send thee away.'' And Saul arose, and they 
went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. And as they 
were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, 
'' Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but 
stand thou still awhile, that I may shew thee the word of 
God.'' 

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, 
and kissed him, and said, ''Is it not because the Lord hath 
anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? Samuel 
When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou Anoints 
shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the ^^ 

border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, 
^The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy 
father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, 
saying, "What shall I do for my son?"' Then shalt thou go 
on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of 
Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God 
to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three 
loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: and they 
will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou 
shalt receive of their hands. After that fhou shalt come to the 
hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall 
come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou 
shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high 
place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, 
before them; and they shall prophesy: and the Spirit of the Lord 
will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and 
shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these 
signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; 
for God is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me to 
Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt 
offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven 



242 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what 
thou shalt do." 

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from 
Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came 
to pass that day. 

And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to 
Mizpeh; and said unto the children of Israel, **Thus saith the 
The People Lord God of Israel, *I brought up Israel out of 
Assemble Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the 
Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them 
that oppressed you: and ye have this day rejected your God, 
who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your 
tribulations; and ye have said unto him, '^Nay, but set a king 
over us." Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord 
by your tribes, and by your thousands.'" 

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come 
near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused 
Saul ^^ tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, 

Made the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son 

"^^ of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he 

could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the Lord 
further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord 
answered, ^^Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff." And 
they ran and fetched him thence : and when he stood among the 
people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders 
and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, ^'See ye him 
whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among 
all the people?" And all the people shouted, and said, ^'God 
save the king." 

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of 
Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, '^Come, 
and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the 
other side." But he told not his father. And Saul tarried in 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 243 

the uttermost part of Gibeali under a pomegranate tree which is 
in Migron : and the people that were with him were about six 
hundred men; and Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's 
brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in 
Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that 
Jonathan was gone. 

And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go 
over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on 
the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name 
of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The 
forefront of the one was situate northward over against Mich- 
mash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. And 
Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, *^Come, 
and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: 
it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint 
to the Lord to save by many or by few." 

And his armourbearer said unto him, *^Do all that is in thine 

heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart." 

Then said Jonathan, '* Behold, we will pass over 

' Ml 1. \ Jonathan 

unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto and His 

them. If they say thus unto us, ^ Tarry until we Armour- 
come to you' ; then we will stand still in our place, 
and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, ^ Come 
up unto us'; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered 
them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us." 

And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison 
of the PhiHstines: and the Philistines said, ^^ Behold, the 
Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid them- 
selves." And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and 
his armourbearer, and said, ^^Come up to us, and we will shew 
you a thing." And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, 
*^Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the 
hand of Israel." And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands 



244 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they 
fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer 
made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of 
land, which a yoke of oxen might plough. And there was trem- 
bling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the 
garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth 
quaked: so it was a very great trembling. 

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; 
and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on 
beating down one another. Then said Saul unto the people 
that were with him, ^^ Number now, and see who is gone from 
us.'' And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and 
his armourbearer were not there. And Saul said unto Ahiah, 
^'Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God was at 
that time with the children of Israel. 

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that 
the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and 
increased: and Saul said unto the priest, '^Withdraw thine 
hand." And Saul and all the people that were with him 
assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, 
behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there 
was a very great discomfiture. Moreover the Hebrews that 
were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with 
them into the camp from the country round about, even they 
also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and 
Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid them- 
selves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines 
fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. So 
the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto 
Beth-aven. 

Samuel also said unto Saul, '^The Lord sent me to anoint 
thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 245 

hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, ' I remember that which Amalek 
did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came 
up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy 
all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man 
and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' " 

And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them 
in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand 
men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of saul 

Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. And Saul Sins 

said unto the Kenites, ^^Go, depart, get you down from 
among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for 
ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when 
they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed 
from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalek- 
ites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over 
against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalek- 
ites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge 
of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the 
best of the sheep and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the 
lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy 
them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they 
destroyed utterly. 

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, ''It 
repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned 
back from following me, and hath not performed my com- 
mandments." And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the 
Lord all night. And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in 
the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, '^Saul came to 
Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone 
about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal." 

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, '^Blessed 
be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of 



246 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the Lord." And Samuel said, ''What meaneth then this bleat- 
ing of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen 
Samuel which I hear?" And Saul said, ''They have 
Rebukes brought them from the Amalekites: for the people 

^^ spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to 

sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have 
utterly destroyed.'^ Then Samuel said unto Saul, "Stay, 
and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night/' 
And he said unto him, "Say on." And Samuel said, "When 
thou wast Uttle in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head 
of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over 
Israel ? And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, ' Go 
and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against 
them until they be consumed.' Wherefore then didst thou not 
obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst 
evil in the sight of the Lord?" And Saul said unto Samuel, 
"Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the 
way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king 
of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But 
the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the 
things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice 
unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal." And Samuel said, "Hath 
the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as 
in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better 
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For re- 
bellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity 
and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 
he hath also rejected thee from being king." 

And Saul said unto Samuel, "I have sinned: for I have 
Saul Ac- transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and 
knowledges thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed 

^^ ^ their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my 
sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord." 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 247 

And Samuel said unto Saul, '^I will not return with thee: for 
thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath 
rejected thee from being king over Israel.'* And as Samuel 
turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his 
mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, ^^The Lord 
hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath 
given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And 
also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not 
a man, that he should repent." Then he said, ^^I have sinned: 
yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, 
and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship 
the Lord thy God." So Samuel turned again after Saul; and 
Saul worshipped the Lord. 

Then said Samuel, '^Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of 
the Amalekites." And Agag came unto him delicately. And 
Agag said, ^^ Surely the bitterness of death is past." Samuel 
And Samuel said, ''As thy sword hath made women Smites 

childless, so shall thy mother be childless among ^^^ 

women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord 
in Gilgal. 

Then Samuel went to Ramah; anci Saul went up to his house 
to Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel came no more to see Saul 
until the day of his death : nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul : 
and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, ''How long wilt thou mourn 
for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel ? 
fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth- 
lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons." And 
Samuel said, "How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me." 
And the Lord said, "Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am 
come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, 
and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint 
unto me him whom I name unto thee." And Samuel did that 



248 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

which the Lord spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the 
elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, 'Xomest 
thou peaceably?" And he said, ^Teaceably: I am come to 
sacrifice unto the Lord : sanctify yourselves, and come with me 
to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and 
called them to the sacrifice. 

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on 
Eliab, and said, ^^ Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." 
David Is But the Lord said unto Samuel, ^'Look not on his 
Anointed countenance, or on the height of his stature; be- 
cause I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man 
seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the 
Lord looketh on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, 
and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, ^ ^ Neither hath 
the Lord chosen this." Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. 
And he said, '^Neither hath the Lord chosen this." Again, 
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel 
said unto Jesse, ^'The Lord hath not chosen these." And 
Samuel said unto Jesse, ^^Are here all thy children?" And he 
said, ^^ There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keep- 
eth the sheep." And Samuel said unto Jesse, ^^Send and fetch 
him: for we will not sit down till he come hither." And he sent, 
and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beau- 
tiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, 
''Arise, anoint him: for this is he." Then Samuel took the 
horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and 
the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. 
So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil 
David spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul's ser- 

SauPsAr- vants said unto him, ''Behold now, an evil spirit 
mourbearer ^^^^ ^^^ troubleth thee. Let our lord now com- 
mand thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 249 

who is a cunning player on an harp : and it shall come to pass, 
when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play 
with his hand, and thou shalt be well." And Saul said unto 
his servants, '^Provide me now a man that can play well, and 
bring him to me." Then answered one of the servants, and said, 
''Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is 
cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, 
and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is 
with him." Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and 
said, ''Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep." And 
Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a 
kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came 
to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and 
he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, 
"Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath foimd 
favour in my sight." And it came to pass, when the evil spirit 
from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played 
with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the 
evil spirit departed from him. 

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, 
and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to 
Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes- 
dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered to- 
gether, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in 
array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a 
mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the 
other side : and there was a valley between them. 

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Phil- 
istines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits 
and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon Goliath 
his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; Defies 

and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels ^^^® 

of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a 



250 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his 
spear was Hke a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed 
six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went 
before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, 
and said unto them, *^Why are ye come out to set your battle 
in array ? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul ? choose 
you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be 
able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your 
servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall 
ye be our servants, and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I 
defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may 
fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard those words 
of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem- 
judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons: and the 
man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 
And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to 
the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle 
were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the 
third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three 
eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul 
to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem. And the Philistine 
drew near morning and evening, and presented himseK forty 
days. And Jesse said unto David his son, ^^Take now for thy 
brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, 
and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten 
cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy 
brethren fare, and take their pledge." Now Saul, and they, 
and all men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with 
the Philistines. 

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep 
with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded 
Jiim; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 251 

to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the 
Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 
And David left his carriage in the hand of the David 

keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and Goes to 
came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked ® ^^ 
with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine 
of Gath, GoUath by name, out of the armies of the Phihstines 
and spake according to the same words: and David heard 
them. 

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from 
him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, '^Have 
ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he 
come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king 
will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, 
and make his father's house free in Israel.'' And David spake 
to the men that stood by him, saying, ^^What shall be done to 
the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the re- 
proach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, 
that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And the 
people answered him after this manner, saying, ^^So shall it 
be done to the man that killeth him." 

And EUab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the 
men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he 
said, ^^Why camest thou down hither? and with g^^j 

whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilder- Sends for 
ness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of ^^^ 

thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the 
battle." And David said, ^^What have I now done? Is there 
not a cause?" And he turned from him toward another, and 
spake after the same manner: and the people answered him 
again after the former manner. And when the words were 
heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: 
and he sent for him. 



252 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And David said to Saul, '^Let no man's heart fail because 
of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And 
Saul said to David, ^^Thou art not able to go against this Phil- 
istine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man 
of war from his youth.'' And David said unto Saul, ^^Thy 
servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a Hon, and a 
bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, 
and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he 
arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, 
and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: 
and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing 
he hath defied the armies of the living God." David said more- 
over, *^The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, 
and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the 
hand of this PhiHstine." And Saul said unto David, '^Go, and 
the Lord be with thee." 

And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet 
of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 
And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed 
to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, 
*'I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." And 
David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, 
and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put 
them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and 
his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and 
the man that bare the shield went before him. 

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he 
Goliath disdained him: for he was but a youth, and 
Disdains ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the 
^^^ Philistine said unto David, '^Am I a dog, that 

thou comest to me with staves?" And the Philistine cursed 
David by his gods. And the PhiHstine said to David, 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 253 

'^ Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, 
and to the beasts of the field.'^ Then said David to the Phil- 
istine, ^'Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, 
and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord 
of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast 
defied. This day will the Lord deHver thee into mine hand; 
and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee ; and I will 
give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto 
the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth ; that all 
the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this 
assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and 
spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into 
our hands." 

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and 
drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward 
the army to meet the Philistine. And David put David 

his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and Kills 

slang it, and smote the PhiHstine in his forehead, ^ ^^ 

that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face 
to the earth. So David prevailed over the Phihstine with a 
sHng and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; 
but there was- no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David 
ran, and stood upon the Phihstine, and took his sword, and 
drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his 
head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion 
was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, 
and shouted, and pursued the Phihstines, until thou come to 
the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the 
Phihstines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, 
and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from 
chasing after the Phihstines, and they spoiled their tents. And 
David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusa- 
lem; but he put his armour in his tent. 



254 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And it came to pass, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with 
the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 

Jonathan's ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^'^ •'^™ ^^^ ^^^' ^^^ would let him go 
Love for no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan 

^^^ and David made a covenant, because he loved him 

as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that 
was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to 
his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went out 
whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely : and 
Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the 
sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned 
from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of 
all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with 
tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the 
women answered one another as they played, and said, ^^Saul 
hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." And 
Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he 
said, ^^They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to 
me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have 
more but the kingdom?'' And Saul eyed David from that day 
and forward. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from 
God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the 
Saul Tries -l^^^^^- ^^^ David played with his hand, as at other 
to Kill times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And 

^^^ Saul cast the javelin; for he said, ^'I will smite 

David even to the wall with it." And David avoided out of 
his presence twice. 

And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with 
him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed 
him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand ; and 
he went out and came in before the people. And David be- 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 255 

haved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with 
him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very 
wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved 
David, because he went out and came in before them. 

And Saul said to David, ^^ Behold my elder daughter Merab, 
her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and 
fight the Lord's battles." For Saul said, ^^Let not Michal 
mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Loves 

Philistines be upon him." And David said unto ^^^ 

Saul, ^^Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family 
in Israel, that I should be^ son in law to the king?" But it 
came to pass at the time when Merab SauPs daughter should 
have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the 
Meholathite to wife. And Michal SauPs daughter loved David: 
and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, 
**I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that 
the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Wherefore 
Saul said to David, ^^Thou shalt this day be my son in law in 
the one of the twain." 

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his ser- 
vants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan SauPs son 
delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, 
**Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, 
take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret 
place, and hide thyself: and I will go out and stand beside my 
father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my 
father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee." 

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and 
said unto him, ^^Let not the king sin against his servant, against 
David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because 
his works have been to thee-ward very good: for he did put his 
life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought 
a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and^didst 



256 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, 
to slay David without a cause?" And Saul hearkened unto 
the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, ^^As the Lord liveth, 
he shall not be slain.'' And Jonathan called David, and Jona- 
than shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought 
David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. 

And there was war again: and David went out, and fought 
with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and 
Second At- ^^^ ^^^ from him. And the evil spirit from the 
tempt to Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with 
^^^ his javelin in his hand: und David played with his 
hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with 
the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and 
he smote the javeHn into the wall: and David fled, and 
escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David's 
house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and 
Michal David's wife told him, saying, ^^If thou save not thy 
life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain." 

So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, 
and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid 
David it in the bed, and put a pillow of goat's hair for his 

Escapes bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when 
Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, ''He is sick." 
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, 
^' Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him." 
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an 
image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster. 
And Saul said unto Michal, ''Why hast thou deceived me so, 
and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?" And Michal 
answered Saul, "He said unto me, 'Let me go; why should I 
kill thee?'" 

So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 
and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 257 

Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, 
saying, ''Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." And Saul 
sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company 
of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed 
over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, 
and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent 
other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul 
sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied 
also. 

Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that 
is in Sechu: and he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and 
David ?'' And one said, ''Behold, they be at Naioth g , 

in Ramah." And he went thither to Naioth in Seeks 

Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, -David 

and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in 
Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied 
before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day 
and all that night. Wherefore they say, ''Is Saul also among 
the prophets ? " 

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said 
before Jonathan, ''What have I done? what is mine iniquity? 
and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life ? " 
And he said unto him, "God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, 
my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will 
shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me ? 
it is not so." And David sware moreover, and said, "Thy 
father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; 
and he saith, 'Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved': 
but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but 
a step between me and death." Then said Jonathan unto 
David, "Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for 
thee." 

And David said unto Jonathan, "Behold, to-morrow is the 



258 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: 
but let me go, that I may hide myseK in the field unto the third 
day at even. If thy father at all miss me, then say, ^ David 
earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem 
his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' 
K he say thus, ' It is well' ; thy servant shall have peace : but if 
he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 
Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast 
brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: 
notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; 
for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father ? " And Jonathan 
said, ^'Far be it' from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were 
determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I 
tell it thee?" Then said David to Jonathan, '^Who shall tell 
me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?" 

And Jonathan said unto David, *Xome, and let us go out 
into the field." And they went out both of them into the field. 
And Jonathan said unto David, ^^O Lord God of Israel, when 
I have sounded my father about to-morrow any time, or the 
third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I 
then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; the Lord do so and 
much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee 
evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou 
mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been 
with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew 
me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: but also thou shalt 
not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when 
the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the 
face of the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with the 
house of David, saying, '^Let the Lord even require it at the 
hand of David's enemies." And Jonathan caused David to 
swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved 
his own soul. 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 259 

Then Jonathan said to David, *^ To-morrow is the new moon: 
and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And 
when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt Jonathan 
go down quickly, and come to the place .where thou Covenants 
didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, ^^ ^^^ 
and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three 
arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, 
behold, I will send a lad, saying, ^Go, find out the arrows/ 
If I expressly say unto the lad, ^Behold, the arrows are on this 
.side of thee, take them'; then come thou: for there is peace to 
thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth. But if I say thus unto the 
young man, ^Behold, the arrows are beyond thee'; go thy way: 
for the Lord hath sent thee away. And as touching the matter 
which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between 
thee and me for ever." 

So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon 
was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king 
sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by 
the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by SauFs 
side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul 
spake not any thing that day: for he thought, ^^ Something 
hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean." 
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second 
day of the month, that David's place was empty: and 
Saul said unto Jonathan his son, ^^ Wherefore cometh not the 
son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?" And 
Jonathan answered Saul, ^* David earnestly asked leave of me 
to go to Beth-lehem: and he said, ^Let me go, I pray thee; for 
our family hath a sacrifice in the city ; and my brother, he hath 
commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour 
in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren.' 
Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table." 

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he 



260 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

said unto him, "Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, 
do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine 
Saul is ^^^^ confusion, and unto the confusion of thy 
Angry with mother's nakedness ? For as long as the son of 
Jonathan j^^^^ j-^^^j^ ^^^^ ^^le ground, thou shalt not be 

established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and 
fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die." And Jonathan 
answered Saul his father, and said unto him, '^Wherefore 
shall he be slain? what hath he done?" And Saul cast a 
javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it 
was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose 
from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second 
day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his 
father had done him shame. 

And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out 
into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad 

Tonathan ^^^ ^^^' ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^' ''Run, find 
Warns out now the arrows which I shoot." And as the 

^^^ lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when 

the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had 
shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, ''Is not the arrow 
beyond thee?" And Jonathan cried after the lad, "Make 
speed, haste, stay not." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the 
arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any 
thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jona- 
than gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, "Go, 
carry them to the city." 

And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place 
toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed 
David and ^^^^elf three times: and they kissed one another, 
Jonathan and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 
Separate ^^ Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, foras- 
much as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 261 

saying, 'The Lord be between me and thee, and between my 
seed and thy seed for ever."' And he arose and departed: and 
Jonathan went into the city. 

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following 
the Phihstines, that it was told him, saying, ^^ Behold, David 
is in the wilderness of En-gedi." Then Saul took David 

three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and Spares 

went to seek David and his men upon the rocks ^ s i e 
of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, 
where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David 
and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men 
of David said unto him, ^^ Behold the day of which the Lord 
said unto thee, ^Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine 
hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto 
thee."' Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of SauFs robe 
privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart 
smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said 
imto his men, ^'The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto 
my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand 
against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord." So David 
stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not 
to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went 
on his way. David also arose afterward, and went out of the 
cave, and cried after Saul, saying, '^My lord the king." And 
when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to 
the earth, and bowed himself. 

And David said to Saul, *^ Wherefore hearest thou men's 
words, saying, 'Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?' Behold, 
this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had David 

delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave: Shows 

and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared 
thee; and I said, 'I will not put forth mine hand against my 
lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.' Moreover, my father, see, 



262 QLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off 
the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see 
that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I 
have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take 
it. The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge 
me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith 
the proverb of the ancients, ^Wickedness proceedeth from the 
wicked': but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom 
is the king of Israel come out ? after whom dost thou pursue ? 
after a dead dog, after a flea. The Lord therefore be judge, 
and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, 
and deliver me out of thine hand.'' 

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speak- 
ing these words unto Saul, that Saul said, '^Is this thy voice, 
my son David ? " And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And 
he said to David, ^*Thou art more righteous than I: for thou 
hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 
And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well 
with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had dehvered me into 
thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, 
will he let him go well away ? wherefore the Lord reward thee 
good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, be- 
hold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the 
kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now 
therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed 
after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my 
father's house." And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went 
home; but David and his men gat them up into the hold. 

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered to- 
Samuel gether, and lamented him, and buried him in his 
^i®s house at Ramah. And David arose, and went 

down to the wilderness of Paran. 

And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, '^Doth 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 263 

not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before 
Jeshimon ? ^' Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilder- 
ness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with 
him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul pitched 
in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. 
But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came 
after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies, 
and understood that Saul was come in very deed. 

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had 
pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner 

the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul _ _ 

. David 

lay in the trench, and the people pitched round Again 

about him. Then answered David and said to Spares 

Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of 

Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, ^^ Who will go down with me to 

Saul to the camp?" And Abishai said, ^ ' I will go down with 

thee." So David and Abishai came to the people by night : and, 

behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck 

in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round 

about him. Then said Abishai to David, ^^ God hath delivered 

thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me 

smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, 

and I will not smite him the second time." And David said 

to Abishai, ^^ Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his 

hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?" David 

said furthermore, ^'As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite 

him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into 

battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch 

forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, 

take thou now. the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of 

water, and let us go." So David took the spear and the cruse 

of water from SauFs bolster; and they gat them away, and no 

man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all 



264 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon 
them. 

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top 
of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: and David 
David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, 

Taunts saying, ^'Answerest thou not, Abner?'' Then 
Abner Abner answered and said, ''Who art thou that 

criest to the king?" And David said to Abner, ''Art not thou 
a valiant man ? and who is like thee in Israel ? wherefore then 
hast thou not kept thy lord the king ? for there came one of the 
people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good 
that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die,^ 
because ye have not kept your master,, the Lord's anointed. 
And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water 
that was at his bolster." And Saul knew David's voice, and 
said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And David said, 
"It is my voice, my lord, O king." And he said, "Wherefore 
doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I 
done? or what evil is in mine hand? Now therefore, I pray 
thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If 
the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an 
offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they 
before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from 
abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ' Go, serve other 
gods.' Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before 
the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek 
a flea, as when one doth himt a partridge in the mountains." 

Then said Saul, "I have sinned: return, my son David: for 
I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in 
thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have 
erred exceedingly." And David answered and said, "Behold 
the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and 
fetch it. The Lord render to every man his righteousness and 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 265 

his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to-day, 
but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's 
anointed. And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day 
in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the 
Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.'' Then 
Saul said to David, ^^ Blessed be thou, my son David: thou 
shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail." So 
David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. 

And David said in his heart, ^^I shall now perish one day by 
the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I 
should speedily escape into the land of the Philis- David 

tines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any Flees to 
more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of 
his hand." And David arose, and he passed over with the six 
hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of 
Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, 
he and his men, every man with his household, even David 
with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the 
Carmelitess, NabaPs wife. And it was told Saul that David 
was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 

And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered 
their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And 
Achish said unto David, ^^Kjiow thou assuredly, that thou shalt 
go out with me to battle, thou and thy men." And David said 
to Achish, *' Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do." 
And Achish said to David, ** Therefore will I make thee keeper 
of mine head for ever." 

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, 
and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had 
put away those that had famiHar spirits, and the wizards, out 
of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, 
and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel 
together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the 



266 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly 
trembled. And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord 
answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by 
prophets. 

Then said Saul unto his servants, ^^Seek me a woman that 
hath a famihar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her." 
j^^ And his servants said to him, ^^ Behold, there is a 

Witch of woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor." 
^ ^^ And Saul disguised himself, and put on other rai- 

ment, and he went, and two men went with him, and they came 
to the woman by night: and he said, *^I pray thee, divine unto 
me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall 
name unto thee." And the woman said unto him, ^^ Behold, 
thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those 
that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: 
wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to 
die?" And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, ^^As the 
Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this 
thing." Then said the woman, ^'Whom shall I bring up unto 
thee?" And he said, ^^ Bring me up Samuel." And when the 
woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman 
spake to Saul, saying, ^^Why hast thou deceived me? for thou 
art Saul." And the king said unto her, '^Be not afraid: for 
what sawest thou?" And the woman said unto Saul, ^^I saw 
a god ascending out of the earth." And he said unto her, 
^ ^ What form is he of ? " And she said, * ' An old man cometh up ; 
and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it 
was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the groimd, and 
bowed himself. 

And Samuel said to Saul, ^^ Why hast thou disquieted me, to 
SamuePs bring me up?" And Saul answered, ''I am sore 
Message distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, 
and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more. 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 267 

neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called 
thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.'' 
Then said Samuel, ^* Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing 
the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 
And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me : for the Lord 
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy 
neighbour, even to David: because thou obeyedst not the voice 
of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, 
therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day. 
Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the 
hand of the Philistines: and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons 
be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into 
the hand of the Philistines.'' Then Saul fell straightway all 
along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words 
of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten 
no bread all the day, nor all the night. 

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore 
troubled, and said unto him, '^ Behold, thine handmaid hath 
obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have 
hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Now 
therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of 
thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; 
and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on 
thy way." But he refused, and said, ^^I will not eat." But 'his 
servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he 
hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and 
sat upon the bed. And the woman had a fat calf in the house; 
and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, 
and did bake unleavened bread thereof: and she brought it 
before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then 
they rose up, and went away that night. 

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of 
Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in 



268 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul 
and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and 
Saul Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, SauPs sons. And the 

Falls on battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit 
IS wor j^j^. ^^^ j^^ ^,^g g^^^ w^ounded of the archers. Then 

said Saul unto his armourbearer, ^^Draw thy sword, and thrust 
me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust 
me through, and abuse me.'' But his armourbearer would 
not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and 
fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was 
dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So 
Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all 
his men, that same day together. 

And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of 
the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw 
that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were 
dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines 
came and dwelt in them. And it came to pass on the morrow, 
when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found 
Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut 
off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land 
of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their 
idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the 
house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of 
Beth-shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard 
of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant 
men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and 
the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to 
Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and 
buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was 
returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had 
abode two days in Ziklag; it came even to pass on the third day, 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 269 

ihat,"^ behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his 
clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he 
came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And 
David said unto him, ^^From whence comest thou?" And he 
said unto him, '^ Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. '^ And 
David said unto him, '*How went the matter? I pray thee, 
tell me." And he answered, ^^ That the people are fled from the 
battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and 
Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." And David said 
unto the yoiing man that told him, *^How knowest thou that 
Saul and Jonathan his son be dead ? " And the young man that 
told him said, ^^\s I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, 
behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and 
horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked be- 
hind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, 
'Here am I.' And he said unto me, *Who art thou?' And I 
answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' He said unto me again, 
* Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me; for anguish is come 
upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.' So I stood upon 
him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live 
after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon 
his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have 
brought them hither unto my lord." 

Then David took hold on his clothes and rent them; and like- 
wise all the men that were with him: and they mourned, and 
wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his 
son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; 
because they were fallen by the sword. 

And David said unto the young man that told him, '' Whence 
art thou?" And he answered, ^'I am the son of a stranger, an 
Amalekite." And David said unto him, ''How wast thou 
not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's 
anointed ? " And David called one of the young men, and said, 



270 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

* ^ Go near, and fall upon him." And he smote him that he died. 

And David said unto him, ^^Thy blood be upon thy head; for 

thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, *I have slain the 

Lord's anointed.'" 

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and 

over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children 

_ ., of Tudah the use of the bow: behold it is written 

David . 

Laments in the book of Jasher.) 

Saul and 

Jonathan 

** The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: 

How are the mighty fallen! 

Tell it not in Gath, 

Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; 

Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 

Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

Ye mountains of Gilboa, 

Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain. 

Upon you, nor fields of offerings : 

For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, 

The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed 

with oil. 

From the blood of the slain. 

From the fat of the mighty, 

The bow of Jonathan turned not back. 

And the sword of Saul returned not empty. 

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, 

And in their death they were not divided: 

They were swifter than eagles. 

They were stronger than lions. 

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, 

Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights. 

Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 271 

Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 

1 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: 
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: 

Thy love to me was wonderful, 
Passing the love of women. 
How are the mighty fallen, 
And the weapons of war perished!'' 

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the 
Lord, saying, ^^ Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" 
And the Lord said unto him, ^^ Go up." And David David 

said, *^ Whither shall I go up?" And he said, King of 
^'Unto Hebron." So David went up thither, and J^^^^ 

his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail 
NabaPs wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him 
did David bring up, every man with his household: and they 
dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, 
and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the 
house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger and 
the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. Then David 

came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, King of 
and spake, saying, ^'Behold, we are thy bone and ^^^® 

thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou 
wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord 
said to thee, *Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt 
be a captain over Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to 
the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them 
in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over 
Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and 
he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven 
years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and 
three years over all Israel and Judah. And Hiram king of 



272 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, 
and masons: and they built David an house. And David per- 
ceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and 
that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves 
in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the 
David Lord, he said, ^^Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a 

Smites the compass behind them, and come upon them over 
Philistines g^g^j^^gt the mulberry trees. And let it be, when 
thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry 
trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord 
go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.'' And 
David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the 
Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. 

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time 
when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his 
David servants with him, and all Israel ; and they destroyed 

Sees Bath- the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. 
sneba -g^^ David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came 

to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, 
and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the 
roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was 
very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired 
after the woman. And one said, ^^Is not this Bath-sheba, the 
daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 

And David sent to Joab, saying, ^^Send me Uriah the 
Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah 
was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, 
and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And 
David said to Uriah, ^^Go down to thy house, and wash thy 
feet." And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there 
followed him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept 
at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 273 

and went not down to his house. And when they had told 
David, saying, ** Uriah went not down unto his house," David 
said unto Uriah, ''Camest thou not from thy journey ? why then 
didst thou not go down unto thine house?'' And Uriah said 
unto David, ''The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; 
and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped 
in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and 
to drink? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do 
this thing.'' 

And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a 
letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote 
in the letter, saying, ''Set ye Uriah in the forefront Uriah 

of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that Is 

he may be smitten, and die." And it came to pass, ® 

when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place 
where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the 
city went out, and fought with Joab : and there fell some of the 
people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died 
also. 

Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the 
war; and charged the messenger, saying, "When thou hast 
made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 
and if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, 
'Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did 
fight-? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? who 
smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth ? did not a woman 
cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died 
in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall?' then say thou, 'Thy 
servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.' " 

So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that 
Joab had sent him for. And the messenger said unto David, 
"Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us 
into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering 



274 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

of the gate. And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy 

servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy 

servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'' Then David said unto 

the messenger, ^'Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, ^Let not this 

thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as 

another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and 

overthrow it: and encourage thou him.'" 

And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband 

was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when 

Marries the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her 

Uriah's to his house, and she became his wife, and bare 
Wife 

him a son. But the thing that David had done 

displeased the Lord. 

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto 
him, and said unto him, *^ There were two men in one city; the 
Nathan's ^^^ ^ch, and the other poor. The rich man had 
Parable exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man 
had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and 
nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his 
children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, 
lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there 
came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of 
his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring 
man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, 
and dressed it for the man that was come to him." And David's 
anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to 
Nathan, ^^ As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing 
shalt surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because 
he did this thing, and because he had no pity." 

And Nathan said to David, ^^Thou art the man. Thus saith 
the Lord God of Israel, ^ I anointed thee king over Israel, and 
I dehvered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy 
master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 275 

gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had been 
too httle, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such 
things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of 
the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? Thou hast killed Uriah the 
Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, 
and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house ; 
because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah 
the Hittite to be thy wife.'" And David said unto Nathan, "I 
have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said unto David, 
'^The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion 
to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is 
bom unto thee shall surely die." And Nathan departed unto 
his house. 

And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto 
David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God 
for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and David's 
lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his Grief for 
house arose and went to him, to raise him up from 
the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with 
them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child 
died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the 
child was dead: for they said, ^'Behold, while the child was yet 
alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our 
voice : how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child 
is dead?" But when David saw that his servants whispered, 
David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said 
unto his servants, ^'Is the child dead?" And they said, ^^He is 
dead." Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and 
anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the 
house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own 
house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and 



276 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, ^^What thing is 
this that thou hast done ? thou didst fast and weep for the child, 
while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise 
and eat bread.'' And he said, ^^ While the child was yet alive, 
I fasted and wept: for I said, ^Who can tell whether God will 
be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is 
dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? 
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." And David 
comforted Bath-sheba his wife; and she bare a son, and he 
called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him. 

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him 
chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And 
Absalom Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of 
the Proud ^g gate: and it was so, that when any man that had 
a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom 
called unto him, and said, ^^Of what city art thou?" And he 
said, '^Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." And Absa- 
lom said unto him, '^See, thy matters are good and right; but 
there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee." Absalom 
said moreover, ^^Oh that I were made judge in the land, that 
every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, 
and I would do him justice 1" And it was so, that when any 
man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his 
hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner 
did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: 
so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto 
the king, ^^I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have 
vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow 
while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, ^If the Lord shall 
bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the 
Lord.'" And the king said unto him, ^^Go in peace." So he 
arose, and went to Hebron. 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 277 

But Absalom sent spies througliout all the tribes of Israel, 
saying, ^^As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye 
shall say, 'Absalom reigneth in Hebron.'" And Absalom's 
with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusa- Conspiracy 
lem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they 
knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the 
Gilonite, David's counsellor; from his city, even from Giloh, 
while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for 
the people increased continually with Absalom. 

And there came a messenger to David, saying, *^The hearts 
of the men of Israel are after Absalom." And David said unto 
all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, David 

''Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape ^l^t^ 

from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us sud- 
denly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge 
of the sword." And the king's servants said unto the king, ''Be- 
hold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king 
shall appoint." And the king went forth, and all his household 
after him. And the king left ten women to keep the house. And 
the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in 
a place that was far off. And all his servants passed on beside 
him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelithites^ and all 
the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, 
passed on before the king. And Absalom, and all the people 
the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with 
him. 

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set 
captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 
And David sent forth a third part of the people David 

under the hand of Joab, and a third part imder Prepares 
the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's for war 
brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. 
And the king said imto the people, "I will surely go forth with 



278 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

you myself also," But the people answered, ^'Thou shalt not 
go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if 
half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth 
ten thousand of us : therefore now it is better that thou succour 
us out of the city.'' And the king said unto them, ^'What 
seemeth you best I will do." And the king stood by the gate 
side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 
^^Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with 
Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all 
the captains charge concerning Absalom. 

So the people went out into the field against Israel : and the 
battle was in the wood of Ephraim; where the people of Israel 
were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a 
great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the 
battle was there scattered over the face of all the country : and 
the wood devoured more people that day than the sword 
devoured. 

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom 
rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs 
Absalom of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, 
is Slain ^^(j j^g ^^g taken up between the heaven and the 
earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a 
certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, ''Behold, I saw 
Absalom hanged in an oak." And Joab said unto the man that 
told him, "And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou 
not smite him there to the ground ? and I would have given thee 
ten shekels of silver, and a girdle." And the man said unto Joab, 
''Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine 
hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's 
son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and 
Ittai, saying, 'Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.' 
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 279 

life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou th}self 
wouldest have set thyself against me/' 

Then said Joab, ^^I may not tarry thus with thee.'' And he 
took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart 
of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And 
ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and 
smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, 
and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab 
held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him 
into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones 
upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. 

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for 
himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, '^I have 
no son to keep my name in remembrance": and Absalom's 
he called the pillar after his own name: and it is Pillar 

called unto this day, Absalom's place. 

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, *^Let me now run, and 
bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of 
his enemies." And Joab said unto him, ^^Thou shalt not bear 
tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but 
this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is 
dead." Then said Joab to Cushi, ^^ Go tell the king what thou 
hast seen." And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, ^^But 
howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi." And 
Joab said, ^^ Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that 
thou hast no tidings ready?" ^^But howsoever," said he, 
'4et me run." And he said unto him, ^^Run." Then Ahimaaz 
ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman 
went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up 
his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And 
the watchman cried, and told tlie king. And the king said, 



280 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

*^If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth." And he came 
apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man 
running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, 
*^ Behold another man running alone.'' And the king said, 
**He also bringeth tidings." And the watchman said, ^'Me 
thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of 
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, ^^He is a 
good man, and cometh with good tidings." And Ahimaaz 
called, and said unto the king, '^AU is well." And he fell down 
to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, '^Blessed 
be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that 
lifted up their hand against my lord the king." And the king 
said, ^^Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz 
answered, ^^When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy 
servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was." 
And the king said unto him, ^^Tum aside, and stand here." 
And he turned aside, and stood still. 

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, ^'Tidings, my lord 
the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them 
David ^^^^ ^^^^ ^P ^g^^^st thee." And the king said unto 

Weeps for Cushi, ^'Is the young man Absalom safe?" And 

sa om Cushi answered, ^'The enemies of my lord the king, 
and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young 
man is." And the king was much moved, and went up to the 
chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, 
**0 my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I 
had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 

And it was told Joab, ^^ Behold, the king weepeth and moum- 
eth for Absalom." And the victory that day was turned into 
mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day 
how the king was grieved for his son. And the people gat them 
by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal 
away when they flee in battle. But the king covered his face, 



I 



SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID 281 

and the king cried with a loud voice, ''O my son Absalom, 
O Absalom, my son, my son!" 

Now king David was old and stricken in years. And Bath- 
sheba went in unto the king into the chamber. And Bath-sheba 
bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the 
king said, ^^What wouldest thou?" And she said Names Sol- 
unto him, ''My lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy ^mon His 
God unto thine handmaid, saying, 'Assuredly Solo- 
mon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my 
throne.'" And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan 
the prophet also came in. And they told the king, saying, 
*' Behold Nathan the prophet." And when he was come in 
before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his 
face to the ground. And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, hast 
thou said, ' Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon 
my throne ? ' Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou 
hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the 
throne of my lord the king after him?" Then king David 
answered and said, "Call me Bath-sheba." And she came into 
the king's presence, and stood before the king. And the king 
sware, and said, "As the Lord liveth, .that hath redeemed my 
soul out of all distress, even as I sware unto thee by the Lord 
God of Israel, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign 
after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead' ; even so 
will I certainly do this day." Then Beth-sheba bowed with her 
face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, ' Let 
my lord king David live for ever." 

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he 
charged Solomon his son, saying, "I go the way of all the earth: 
be thou strong therefore, and shew thyseh a man; David's 
and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk Charge to 
in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his command- ^ omon 
ments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written 



282 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou 
doest, and withersoever thou tumest thyself: that the Lord may 
continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, *If 
thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth 
with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail 
thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel/ *' So David slept 
with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. Then 
sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his king- 
dom was established greatly. 



[I Samuel iii-iv, i8; viii-x, 9; x, 17-24; xiv, 1-23; 
xv-xvii, 54; xviii, 1-21; xix-xx; xxiv-xxv, i; xxvi- 
xxvii, 4; xxviii; xxxi. II Samuel i-ii, 4; iii, i; v, 1-5, 
11-12, 22-25; xi, 1-3, 6-11, 14-27; xii, i-io, 13-24; 
XV, 1-18; xvi, 15; xviii-xix, 4. I Kings, i, i, 15-17, 
22-24, 27-31; ii, 1-4, 10, 12.] 



SOLOMON 283 

SOLOMON 

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by 
night: and God said, ^^Ask what I shall give thee.'^ And 
Solomon said, ^^Thou hast shewed unto thy servant Solomon's 
David my father great mercy, according as he Choice 

walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in up- 
rightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this 
great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his 
throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast 
made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am 
but a Httle child: I know not how to go out or come in. And 
thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast 
chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted 
for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understand- 
ing heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between 
good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a 
people?" 

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked 
this thing. And God said unto him, ^^ Because thou hast asked 
this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast 
asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; 
but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 
behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given 
thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none 
like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto 
thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not 
asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any 
among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt 
walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, 
as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days." 
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he 
came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of 



284 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace 
offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 

Then came there two women unto the king, and stood before 
him. And the one woman said, ^^ O my lord, I and this woman 
dwell in one house: and we were together; there was no stranger 
with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this wom- 
an's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she 
arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine 
handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead 
child in my bosom. And when I arose in the morning, behold, 
it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, 
behold, it was not my son, which I did bear." And the other 
woman said, ^^Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is 
thy son." And this said, ^^No; but the dead is thy son, and the 
hving is my son." Thus they spake before the king. 

Then said the king, '*The one saith, ^This is my son that 
liveth, and thy son is the dead': and the other saith, 'Nay; but 
Solomon ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ dead, and my son is the living.'" 
a Good And the king said, ''Bring me a sword." And they 
Ju ge brought a sword before the king. And the king said, 

''Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half 
to the other." Then spake the woman whose the living child 
was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and 
she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise 
slay it." But the other said, "Let it be neither mine nor thine, 
but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her 
the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof." 
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; 
and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God 
was in him, to do judgment. 

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon 
concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with 
hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great 



SOLOMON 285 

train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and 
precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she com- 
muned with him of all that was in her heart. And jj^^ 
Solomon told her all her questions : and there was not Queen of 
any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, 
and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and 
the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, 
and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which 
he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more 
spirit in her. And she said to the king, '^It was a true report 
that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 
Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes 
had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom 
and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are 
thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually 
before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy 
God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of 
Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made 
he thee king, to do judgment and justice." And she gave the 
king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very 
great store, and precious stones: there came no more such 
abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to 
king Solomon. And the navy also of Hiram, that brought 
gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug 
trees, and precious stones. And the king made of the almug 
trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, 
harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug 
trees, nor were seen unto this day. And king Solomon gave unto 
the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, 
besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. 
So she turned and went to her own country, she and her 
servants. 



286 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

But king Solomon loved many women, together with the 
daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, 
Solomon*s Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations 
Disobe- concerning which the Lord said unto the children 
lence ^£ jgj.g^gi^ ^Ye shall not go in to them, neither 

shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn 
away your heart after their gods": Solomon clave unto 
these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses: 
and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to 
pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his 
heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with 
the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For 
Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, 
and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And 
Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully 
after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon 
build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, 
in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abom- 
ination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all 
his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their 
gods. 

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart 
was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared 
Divided unto him twice, and had commanded him concern- 
Kingdom ij^g this thing, that he should not go after other gods : 
but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore 
the Lord said unto Solomon, ** Forasmuch as this is done of 
thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, 
which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom 
from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in 
thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will 
rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend 
away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for 



SOLOMON ' 287 

David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I huve 
chosen." 

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, 
Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow 
woman, even he Hfted up his hand against the king. 
And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand 
against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches 
of the city of David his father. And the man Jeroboam was a 
mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that 
he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the 
house of Joseph. 

And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out 
of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him 
in the way; and he had clad himself with a new jeroboam 
garment; and they two were alone in the field: and Chosen 
Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, ^^ 

and rent it in twelve pieces: and he said to Jeroboam, '^Take 
thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, 
^Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, 
and will give ten tribes to thee: (but he shall have one tribe for 
my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city 
which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) because that 
they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the 
goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, 
Mil com the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked 
in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep 
my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. How- 
beit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I 
will make him prince all the days of his life for David my ser- 
vant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments 
and my statutes: but I will take the kingdom out of his son's 
hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And unto his 
son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a 



288 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have 
chosen me to put my name there. And I will take thee, and 
thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt 
be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto 
all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that 
is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, ' 
as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee 
a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto 
thee. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for 
ever.'" Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And 
Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of 
Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and 
his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of 
Solomon Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in 
Dies Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And 

Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of 
David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 



[I Kings iii, 5-28; x, 1-13; xi, 1-13, 26-43.] 



THE REBELLION OF ISRAEL 289 

THE REBELLION OF ISRAEL 

And Rehoboam went to Shechemrfor all Israel were come to 
Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jero- 
boam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, ^j^^ 
heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of People 
king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) onip am 
that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the con- 
gregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 
*^Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou 
the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he 
put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee." And he said unto 
them, ^^ Depart yet for three days, then come again to me." 
And the people departed. 

And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood 
before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, ^*How 
do ye advise that I may answer this people?" And ^j^^ 

they spake unto him, saying, *^If thou wilt be a Klng^s 

servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve visers 

them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then 
they will be thy servants for ever." But he forsook the counsel 
of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with 
the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood 
before him: and he said unto them, ^^What counsel give ye 
that we may answer this people, who have spoken to 
me, saying, ^Make the yoke which thy father did put upon 
us lighter?'" And the young men that were grown up 
with him spake unto him, saying, **Thus shalt thou speak 
unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, ^Thy father 
made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us'; 
thus shalt thou say unto them, ^My little finger shall be 
thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father 
did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke : my 



290 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you 
with scorpions.'" 

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third 
day, as the king had appointed, saying, ^'Come to me again the 
third day." And the king answered the people roughly, and 
forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake 
to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, '^My father 
made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father 
also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you w^ith 
scorpions." Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people ; 
for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his 
saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto 
Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, 
the people answered the king, saying, '^What portion have we 
Israel ^^ David? neither have we inheritance in the son of 

Split in Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own 
^^^^ house, David." So Israel departed unto their tents. 

But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of 
Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam 
sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned 
him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made 
speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So 
Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam 
was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congre- 
gation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that 
followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 



[I Kings xii, 1-20.] 



ELIJAH 291 

ELIJAH 

And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began 
Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son 
of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and Ahab^s 
two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil Sinfulness 
in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. 
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him 
to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he 
took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the 
Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which 
he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab 
did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the 
kings of Israel that were before him. 

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gil- 
ead, said unto Ahab, ^*As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before 
whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but 
according to my word." 

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, ''Get thee 
hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook 
Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, Eliiah 

that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have Fed by the 
commanded the ravens to feed thee there." So he avens 

went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went 
and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And 
the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and 
bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, 
because there had been no rain in the land. 

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, ''Arise, 
get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell 
there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to 



292 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

sustain thee.'' So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when 
he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman 
Eliiah ^^^ there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, 

and the and said, ^ ' Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a 

^ ^^ vessel, that I may drink." And as she was going to 
fetch it, he called to her, and said, ^^ Bring me, I pray thee, a 
morsel of bread in thine hand." And she said, ^^As the Lord 
thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a 
barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering 
two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, 
that we may eat it, and die." And Elijah said unto her, ^^Fear 
not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little 
cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and 
thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ^The barrel 
of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until 
the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.' " And she 
went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and 
he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal 
wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the 
word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the 
woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness 
was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 
Raises the And she said unto Elijah, ^^ What have I to do with 
Widow's ti^ge, O thou man of God ? art thou come unto me 
to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son ?" 
And he said unto her, ' ' Give me thy son. ' ' And he took him out of 
her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and 
laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord, and 
said, *^0 Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the 
widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" And he 
stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto 
the Lord, and said, ^'O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this 



ELIJAH 293 

child's soul come into him again/' And the Lord heard the 
voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, 
and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him 
down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him 
unto his mother: and Elijah said, ^^See, thy son liveth." And 
the woman said to Elijah, ^^Now by this I know that thou art 
a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is 
truth." 

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the 
Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, ^'Go, shew thy- 
self unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth." And 
Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore 
famine in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the 
governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly: 
for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, 
that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by 
fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) And 
Ahab said unto Obadiah, ^^Go into the land, unto all fountains 
of water, and unto all brooks : peradventure we may find grass to 
save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts." 
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: 
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way 
by himself. 

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: 
and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, ^^ Art thou that 
my lord Elijah?" And he answered him, ''I am: go, tell thy 
lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.'" And he said, ''What have I 
sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand 
of Ahab, to slay me ? As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no 
nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: 
and when they said, 'He is not there'; he took an oath of the 
kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou 
sayest, 'Go, tell thy lord, "Behold, Elijah is here.'" And it 



294 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the 
Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so 
when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall 
slay me : but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth. Was 
it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets 
of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets 
by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And 
now thou sayest, ^Go, tell thy lord, ^'Behold, Elijah is here"': 
and he shall slay me." And Elijah said, ^^ As the Lord of hosts 
liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto 
him to-day." So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: 
and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said 
unto him, ^^Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he an- 
Eliiah swered, ^^I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and 

Meets thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the 

^ commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed 

Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto 
mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and 
fifty, and the prophets of the grove four hundred, which eat at 
Jezebel's table." So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, 
and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, ^'How long 
halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: 
but if Baal, then follow him." And the people answered him 
not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, ^^I, even I only, 
remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hun- 
dred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; 
and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in 
pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will 
dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire 
imder: and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on 
the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, 



I 



ELIJAH 295 

let him be God.'' And all the people answered and said, ''It 

is well spoken.'' 

And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, '' Choose you one 

bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and 

call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. " pi • • i. 

And they took the bullock which was given them, Mocks 

and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal ^ BaaPs 
. M . ..^ T^ 1 Prophets 

from mornmg even until noon, saymg, ''O Baal, 

hear us." But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And 
they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to 
pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, ''Cry aloud: 
for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is 
in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." 
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner 
with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 
And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they pro- 
phesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, 
that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that 
regarded. 

And Elijah said unto all the people, " Come near unto me." 
And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the 

altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Eli j ah ^, . . , 

11 T 1 1 r -I Elijah 

took twelve stones, accordmg to the number of the Calls Down 

tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word ^^1? ^^^^ 

of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be thy 

name": and with the stones he built an altar in the name of 

the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as 

would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood 

in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the 

wood, and said, "Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on 

the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." And he said, "Do it 

the second time." And they did it the second time. And he 

said, "Do it the third time." And they did it the third time. 



296 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the 
trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the 
offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came 
near, and said, *'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, 
let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I 
am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy 
word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know 
that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their 
heart back again." Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed 
the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, 
and licked up the water that was in the trenth. And when 
all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, 
^^The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God." And 
Elijah said unto them, ^'Take the prophets of Baal; let not one 
of them escape." And they took them: and Elijah brought 
them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 

And Elijah said unto Ahab, *'Get thee up, eat and drink; 
for there is a sound of abundance of rain." So Ahab went up 

. to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top 

of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, 
and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, 
**Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up, and 
looked, and said, ''There is nothing." And he said, ''Go 
again seven times." And it came to pass at the seventh time, 
that he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, 
like a man's hand." And he said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, 
* Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop 
thee not.'" And it came to pass in the mean while, that the 
heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great 
rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of 
the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran 
before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal 



ELIJAH 297 

how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then 
Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, *^So let the gods 
do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of 
one of them by to-morrow about this time." And when he saw 
that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, 
which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and 
came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for 
himself that he might die; and said, *^It is enough; under the 
now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not Juniper 
better than my fathers." And as he lay and slept 
under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and 
said unto him, ^'Arise and eat." And he looked, and, behold, 
there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at 
his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 
And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and 
touched him, and said, *^ Arise and eat; because the journey is 
too great for thee." And he arose, and did eat and drink, 
and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty 
nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, 
behold,, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto 
him, ^ ' What doest thou here, Elijah ? " And he said, ^j^^ g^.jl 
*^I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Small 

hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy ^^^^ 

covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets 
with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my 
life, to take it away." And he said, ^'Go forth, and stand 
upon the mount before the Lord." And, behold, the Lord 
passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 
and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord 
was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but 
the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake 



298 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still 
small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he 
wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood in the 
entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto 
him, and said, ^'What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he said, 
^^I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because 
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down 
thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even 
I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.'' And the 
Lord said unto him, ^^Go, return on thy way to the wilderness 
of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king 
over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be 
king over Israel : and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-Meholah 
shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come 
to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu 
slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall 
Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all 
the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth 
which hath not kissed him." 

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, 
who was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and 
he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and 
cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, 
and ran after Elijah, and said, ^^Let me, I pray thee, kiss my 
father and my mother, and then I will follow thee." And he 
said unto him, ^^ Go back again: for what have I done to thee ? " 
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and 
slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the 
oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he 
arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. 

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the 
Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the 
palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, 



ELIJAH 299 

saying, ^^Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a gar- 
den of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give 
thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem Naboth's 
good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money." Vineyard 
And Naboth said to Ahab, '^The Lord forbid it me, that I 
should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." And 
Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the 
word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he 
had said, ^^I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers." 
And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, 
and would eat no bread. 

But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, ^^ Why 
is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?" And he said 
unto her, ^^ Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and 
said unto him, *Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it 
please thee, I yAW give thee another vineyard for it': and he 
answered,^! will not give thee my vineyard.'" And Jezebel 
his wife said unto him, ^'Dost thou now govern the kingdom 
of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: 
I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name,' and sealed them with 
his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles 
that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in 
the letters, saying, ^^ Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high 
among the people: and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, 
to bear witness against him, saying, ^Thou didst blaspheme 
God and the king.' And then carry him out, and stone him, 
that he may die." And the men of his city, even the elders and 
the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel 
had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which 
she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set 
Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two 
men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of 



300 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the pres- 
ence of the people, saying, '^Naboth did blaspheme God and 
the king." Then they carried him forth out of the city, and 
stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, 
saying, ^'Naboth is stoned, and is dead." 

And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was 
stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, ^^ Arise, take 
possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he 
refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but 
dead." And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth 
was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of 
Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 

And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, say- i 
ing, *^ Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in 
Ahab's Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, 

Death whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou 

rop esie ghalt speak unto him, saying, ^ Thus saith the Lord, 
^^Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?"' And thou 
shalt speak unto him, saying, 'Thus saith the Lord, ^*In the 
place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick 
thy blood, even thine."'" And Ahab said to Elijah, ^^Hast 
thou found me, O mine enemy?" And he answered, ''I have 
found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the 
sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will 
take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every man 
child, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will make 
thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and 
like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, for the provocation 
wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel 
to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, *^The dogs 
shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of 
Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the 
field shall the fowls of the air eat." 



ELIJAH 301 

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself 
to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel 
his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably Ahab's 
in following idols, according to all things as did the Humility 
Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he 
rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, 
and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the 
Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ^'Seest thou how 
Ahab humbleth himself before me ? because he humbleth him- 
self before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his 
son's days will I bring the evil upon his house." 

So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of 
Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel 
said unto Jehoshaphat, '^I will disguise myself, and enter into 
the battle; but put thou on thy robes." And the king of Israel 
disguised himself, and went into the battle. But the king of 
Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule 
over his chariots, saying, ^^ Fight neither with small nor great, 
save only with the king of Israel." And it came to pass, when 
the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, 
'^Surely it is* the king of Israel." And they turned aside to 
fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to 
pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not 
the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 
And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king 
of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said 
unto the driver of his chariot, ^^Tum thine hand, and carry me 
out of the host; for I am wounded." And the battle increased 
that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the 
Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound 
into the midst of the chariot. And there went a proclamation 
throughout the host about the going down of the sun. 



302 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

saying, ''Every man to his city, and every man to his own 
country." 

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they 
buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in 
Death of the pool of Samaria; and the dogs hcked up his 
^^^^ blood; and they washed his armour; according unto 

the word of the Lord which he spake. So Ahab slept with his 
fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. 

Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 
And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber 
Ahaziah's ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ Samaria, and was sick: and he sent 
Death messengers, and said unto them, ''Go, enquire of 

rop esie B^al-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover 
of this disease." Btit the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the 
Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of 
Samaria, and say unto them, 'Is it not because there is not a 
God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of 
Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the Lord, "Thou shalt not 
come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt 
surely die.'"" And Elijah departed. 

And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said 
unto them, "Why are ye now turned back?" And they said 
unto him, "There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, 
' Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, 
"Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in 
Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of 
Ekron ? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on 
which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die."'" And he 
said unto them, "What manner of man was he which 
came up to meet you, and told you these words?" And 
they answered him, "He was an hairy man, and girt with a 
girdle of leather about his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah 
the Tishbite." 



ELIJAH 303 

Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. 

And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an 

hill. And he spake unto him, ''Thou man of God, ^,.. , ^ „ 
, , . , 1.1.^ 1 ,,, A 1 -r-T. 1 Elijah Calls 

the kmg hath said, 'Come down. " And Elijah Fire Down 

answered and said to the captain of fifty, '^ If I be ^^^^ 

a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, 

•and consume thee and thy fifty." And there came down fire 

from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. Again also he 

sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And 

he answered and said unto him, "O man of God, thus hath 

the king said, 'Come down quickly.'" And Elijah answered 

and said unto them, " If I be a man of God, let fire come down 

from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty." And the fire 

of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his 

fifty. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his 

fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell 

on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto 

him, "O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of 

these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there 

came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of 

the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be 

precious in thy sight." And the angel of the Lord said unto 

Elijah, "Go down with him: be not afraid of him." And he 

arose, and went down with him unto the king. 

And he said unto him, "Thus saith the Lord, 'Forasmuch as 
thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of 
Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of 
his word ? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on 
which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.'" So he died 
according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. 

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah 
into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from 
Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee; 



304 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el." And Elisha said unto 

him, ^'As the Lord hveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave 

thee." So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the 

prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said 

unto him, ^^Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy 

master from thy head to-day ? " And he said, '^ Yea, I know it; 

hold ye your peace." And Elijah said unto him, ^'Elisha, tarry . 

here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho." And 

he said, ^^As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not 

leave thee." So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the 

prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto 

him, ^^Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master 

from thy head to-day?" And he answered, ^^Yea, I know it; 

hold ye your peace." And Elijah said unto him, ''Tarry, I 

pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." And he 

said, ''As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not 

leave thee." And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons 

of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two 

stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it 

together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither \ 

and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah 

said unto Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be" 

^, . , taken away from thee." And Elisha said, "I pray 
Chariot of , , , , , . r ^ - - ^ ;, 

Fire Takes thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 

Elijah up And he said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing: never- 
to Heaven , , .^ i it ^ c ^ 

theless, if thou see me when 1 am taken from thee, 

it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." And 

it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, 

there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted 

them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into 

heaven. 

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the 






ELIJAH 305 

chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.'' And he saw him 
no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in 
two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from 
him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he 
took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the 
waters, and said, ' ' Where is the Lord God of Elijah ? '' and when 
he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: 
and Elisha went over. 

And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at 
Jericho saw him, they said, **The spirit of Elijah doth rest 
on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed Eliiah's 
themselves to the ground before him. And they Spirit on 
said unto him, ^^ Behold now, there be with thy ^^ ^ 

servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek 
thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken 
him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley." 
And he said, '^ Ye shall not send." And when they urged him 
till he was ashamed, he said, ^^Send." They sent therefore 
fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. And 
when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he 
said unto them, * ' Did I not say unto you, ' Go not ? ' " 



[I Kings xvi, 29-33; xvii-xix; xxi; xxii, 29-38, 40; 
II Kings i, I -17; ii, 1-18.] 



306 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 



ELISHA 

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, ''Behold, I pray 

thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: 

Elisha ^^^ ^^ water is naught, and the ground barren." 

Heals the And he said, ''Bring me a new cruse, and put salt 

Waters therein." And they brought it to him. And he 

went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in 

there, and said, "Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these 

J 
waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren I 

land." So the waters were healed unto this day, according 

to the saying of Elisha which he spake. 

And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was go- 
ing up by the way, there came forth little children out of the 
Children ^^^^^ ^^^ mocked him, and said unto him, "Go up, 
Eaten by thou bald head; go up, thou bald head." And he 
®^^^ turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them 

in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she-bears 
out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. And 
he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he 
returned to Samaria. 

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of 
the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is 
Elisha dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear 

Increases the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him 

® my two sons to be bondmen." And Elisha said 

imto her, "What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou 
in the house ? " And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not any 
thing in the house, save a pot of oil." Then he said, "Go, 
borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty 
vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou 
shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt 
pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that 



I 



ELISHA 307 

which is full." So she went from him, and shut the door upon 
her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she 
poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, 
that she said unto her son, ^^ Bring me yet a vessel." And he 
said unto her, *^ There is not a vessel more." And the oil 
stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, 
**Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy 
children of the rest." 

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where 
was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. 
And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither 
to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, ^^ Behold now, 
I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by^us 
continually. Let us- make a little chamber, I pray thee, on 
the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a 
stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, 
that he shall turn in thither." 

And the woman bare a son. And when the child was grown, 
it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 
And he said unto his father, ^^My head, my head." ^j^^ gj^^_ 
And he said to a lad, ^^ Carry him to his mother." nammite's 
And when he had taken him, and brought him to ^^ ^^^ 
his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And 
she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and 
shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her 
husband, and said, ''Send me, I pray thee, one of the young 
men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, 
and come again." And he said, ''Wherefore wilt thou go to 
him to-day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath." And she 
said, "It shall be well." Then she saddled an ass, and said to 
her servant, "Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for 
me, except I bid thee." 

So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. 



308 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, 
that he said to Gehazi his servant, ^^ Behold, yonder is that 
Shunammite: run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto 
her, * Is it well with thee ? is it well with thy husband ? is it well 
with the child ?' '^ And she answered, ^^ It is well." And when 
she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the 
feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man 
of God said, ^'Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: 
and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.'' Then 
she said, ^^Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, ^Do 
not deceive me'?" 

Then he said to Gehazi, ^^Gird up thy loins, and take my 
staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any mtan, 
salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: 
and lay my staff upon the face of the child." And the mother 
of the child said, '^As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 
I will not leave thee." And he arose, and followed her. And 
Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face 
of the child ; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Where- . 
fore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, *^The 
child is not awaked." 

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child 
was dead, and was laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, 
Elisha ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ door upon them twain, and prayed 

Raises unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the 

® ^ child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his 
eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he 
stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child 
waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to 
and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the 
child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 

And he called Gehazi, and said, ^^Call this Shunammite." 
So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, 



I 



ELISHA . 309 

'^Take up thy son." Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and 
bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. 

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a 
great man with his master, and honourable, because by him 
the Lord had given dehverance unto Syria: he was Naaman 
also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. the 

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and ®^®^ 

had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; 
and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her 
mistress, ^^ Would God my lord were with the prophet that is 
in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." 

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, ^^Thus and thus 
said the maid that is of the land of Israel." And the king of 
Syria said, ^^Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king 
of Israel." And he departed, and took with him ten talents of 
silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of 
raiment. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, 
*^Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have there- 
with sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover 
him of his leprosy." And it came to pass, when the king of 
Israel had read the letter, that he reiit his clothes, and said, 
'^Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send 
unto me to recover a man of his leprosy ? wherefore consider, I 
pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me." 

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that 
the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, 
saying, ^^ Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Elisha 

let him come now to me, and he shall know that Heals 

there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came aaman 
with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of 
the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, 
saying, ^^Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh 
shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." 



310 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, ^'Behold, 
I thought, ^He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call 
on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the 
place, and recover the leper.' Are not Abana and Pharpar, 
rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel ? may I 
not wash in them, and be clean ? " So he turned and went away 
in a rage. 

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, 
*'My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, 
wouldest thou not have done it ? how much rather then, when 
he saith to thee, ^ Wash, and be clean?' " Then went he down, 
and dipped himseh seven times in Jordan, according to the 
saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto 
the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, 
and came, and stood before him: and he said, ^^ Behold, now 
Naaman ^ know that there is no God in all the earth, but in 
Offers Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing 

Presents ^^ ^^^ servant.'' But he said, ''As the Lord Hveth, 
before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him 
to take it; but he refused. And Naaman said, ''Shall there not 
then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden 
of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt 
ofiering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord. In 
this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master 
goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth 
on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when 
I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon 
thy servant in this thing." And he said unto him, " Go in peace." 
So he departed from him a little way. 

But Gehazi, the servant of EUsha the man of God, said, 
*' Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not 
receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord 



ELISHA 311 

liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him." So 
Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him 
running after him, he lighted down from the chariot Gehazi 
to meet him, and said, '^s all well?'' And he Covets 

said, *^ All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, ^Behold, 
even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young 
men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a 
talent of silver, and two changes of garments.' " And Naaman 
said, '^Be content, take two talents." And he urged him, and 
bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of 
garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they 
bare them before him. 

And when he came to the tower, he took them from their 
hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, 
and they departed. B ut he went in, and stood before Gehazi Is 
his master. And Elisha said unto him, ^^ Whence Cursed with 
comest thou, Gehazi ? " And he said, ' ' Thy servant leprosy 
went no whither." And he said unto him, ^^Went not mine 
heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot 
to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive 
garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, 
and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore 
of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever." 
And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 

And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, ^^ Behold now, 
the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us 
go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence Elisha 

every man a beam, and let us make a place there. Causes Iron 
where we may dwell." And he answered, ^^Go ^ ^^°^ 
ye." And one said, ^^Be content, I pray thee, and go with 
thy servants." And he answered, "I will go." So he went 
with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down 
wood. But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into 



312 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the water: and tie cried, and said, ^'Alas, master! for it was 
borrowed." And the man of God said, ^^ Where fell it?" 
And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and 
cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, 
"Take it up to thee." And he put out his hand, and took it. 

Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel 
with his servants, saying, *^In such and such a place shall be 
ElishaDis- ^^^ camp." And the man of God sent imto the 
comfits King king of Israel, saying, ^^ Beware that thou pass not 
o Syria ^^^j^ ^ place ; for thither the Syrians are come down. " 
And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God 
told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once 
nor twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore 
troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said 
unto them, ^* Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of 
Israel ? ' ' And one of his servants said, ^ ^ None, my lord, O king : 
but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of 
Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber." 

And he said, *^Go and spy where he is, that I may send and 
fetch him." And it was told him, saying, ^^ Behold, he is in 
Syrian Dothan." Therefore sent he thither horses, and 

^^?* chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, 

with and compassed the city about. And when the ser- 

Blindness ya^^ Qf j^^ j^an of God was risen early, and gone 
forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and 
chariots. And his servant said unto him, ^'Alas, my master! 
how shall we do ? " And he answered, ' ^ Fear not : for they that 
be with us are more than they that be with them." And Elisha 
prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he 
may see." And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; 
and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and 
chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down 
to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, "Smite this 



ELISHA 313 

people, I pray thee, with blindness.'' And he smote them with 
blindness according to the word of Elisha. 

And Elisha said unto them, ^^This is not the way, neither is 
this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom 
ye seek." But he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, 
when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, *'Lord, 
open the eyes of these men, that they may see.'' And the Lord 
opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the 
midst of Samaria. And the king of Israel said unto EHsha, 
when he saw them, ^'My father, shall I smite them? shall I 
smite them ? " And he answered, ^ ^ Thou shalt not smite them : 
wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with 
thy sword and with thy bow ? set bread and water before them, 
that they may eat and drink, and go to their master." And he 
prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten 
and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. 
So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. 

And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the 
prophets, and said unto him, ^'Gird up thy loins, and take 
this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead : and 
when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of 
Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise 
up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner cham- 
ber; then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 
^Thus saith the Lord, ^^I have anointed thee king over 
Israel."' Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not." 

So the yoimg man, even the young man the prophet, went to 
Ramoth-gilead. And when he came, behold, the captains of 
the host were sitting; and he said, ^^I have an jehu 

errand to thee, O captain." And Jehu said, Anointed 
^^Unto which of all us?" And he said, ^^To thee, O 
captain." And he arose, and went into the house; and he 
poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, ^'Thus 



314 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

saith the Lord God of Israel, ^I have anointed thee king 
over the people of the Lord, even over Israel. And thou shalt 
smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the 
blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the 
servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole 
house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab every 
man child, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: and I will 
make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of 
Nebat, and Hke the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: and the 
dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall 
be none to bury her.' " And he opened the door, and fled. 

Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one 
said unto him, ^^Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow 
to thee ? " And he said unto them, '^ Ye know the man, and his 
communication." And they said, *'It is false; tell us now." 
And he said, '^Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, ^Thus 
saith the Lord, ^^I have anointed thee king over Israel."'" 
Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it 
under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, 
saying, ^^ Jehu is king." So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the 
son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had 
kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king 
of Syria. But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel 
of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought 
with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, ^^If it be your 
minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go 
to tell it in Jezreel." ' || 

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram ' 
lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see 
Jehu Joram. And there stood a watchman on the tower 

Drives in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as 

unous y j^^ came, and said, '^ I see a company." And Joram 
said, '^Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him 



I 



ELISHA 315 

say, 'Is it peace?'" So there went one on horseback to meet 
him, and said, ''Thus saith the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu 
said, "What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me." 
And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to 
them, but he cometh not again." Then he sent out a second 
on horseback, which came to them, and said, "Thus saith the 
king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou 
to do with peace? turn thee behind me." And the watchman 
told, saying, "He came even unto them, and cometh not again: 
and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; 
for he driveth furiously." And Joram said, "Make ready." 
And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel 
and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and 
they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of 
Naboth the Jezreelite. 

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, 
"Is it peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace, so 
long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witch- 
crafts are so many?" And Joram turned his hands, and fled, 
and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah." And 
Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram 
between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he 
sunk down in his chariot. Then said Jehu to Bidkar his cap- 
tain, "Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of 
Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou 
rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden 
upon him; 'Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, 
and the blood of his sons,' saith the Lord; 'and I will requite 
thee in this plat,' saith the Lord. Now therefore take and cast 
him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the 
Lord." 

But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the 
way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and 



316 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

said, ^' Smite him also in the chariot." And they did so at the 
going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, 
and died there. And his servants carried him in a chariot to 
Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers 
in the city of David. 

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; 
and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out 
JezebePs at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, 
Death ghe said, ''Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" 

And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, ''Who is on 
my side? who?" And there looked out to him two or three 
eunuchs. And he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her 
down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and 
on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was 
come in, he did eat and drink, and said, "Go, see now this 
cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter." 
And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than 
the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore 
they came again, and told him. And he said, ' ' This is the word 
of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, 
saying, ' In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of 
Jezebel: so that they shall not say, "This is Jezebel."'" 

In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began 
Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, 
and reigned sixteen years. 

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. 
And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept 
Elisha over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the 

^^^s chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." And 

Elisha said unto him, "Take bow and arrows." And he took 
unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, 
' ' Put thine hand upon the bow." And he put his hand upon it : 
and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. And he said. 



ELISHA 317 

''Open the window eastward." And he opened it. Then Elisha 
said, ''Shoot." And he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the 
Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: 
for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have con- 
sumed them." And he said, '^ Take the arrows." And he took 
them. And he said unto the king of Israel, "Smite upon the 
ground." And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of 
God was wroth with him, and said, "Thou shouldest have 
smitten five or six times ; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou 
hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but 
thrice." And Elisha died, and they buried him. 

And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming 
in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a 
man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast 
the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let 
down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood 
up on his feet. 



[II Kings ii, 19-25; iv, i-io, 17-37; v-vi, 23; ix, 1-28, 
30-37; xiii, 10, 14-21.] 



318 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

JONAH 

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of 
Amittai, saying, '^ Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry 
Jonah's against it; for their wickedness is come up before 
^^^^ me." But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from 

the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found 
a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went 
down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence 
of the Lord. 

But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there 
was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was Hke to be 
The broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried 

Tempest every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares 
that were in the ship into the sea, to Ughten it of them. But 
Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and 
was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto 
him, ^' What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, 
if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not." 

And they said every one to his fellow, ^' Come, and let us cast 
lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us." 
So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they 
unto him, '^Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil 
is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest 
thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?" 
And he said unto them, ^^I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, 
the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land." 
Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, 
''Why hast thou done this?" For the men knew that he fled 
from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 

Then said they unto him, ''What shall we do unto thee, that 
the sea may be calm unto us?" for the sea wrought, and was 
tempestuous. And he said unto them, '^Take me up, and 



I 



JONAH 319 

cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: 
for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.'^ 
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the Jonah 

land; but they could not: for the sea was wrought, Cast into 
and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they 
cried unto the Lord, and said, ^^We beseech thee, O Lord, we 
beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not 
upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it 
pleased thee." So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into 
the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men 
feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the 
Lord, and made vows. 

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 
And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three 
nights. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God Jonah 

out of the fish's belly, and said, Prays 

'*I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, 

And he heard me; 

Out of the belly of hell cried I, 

And thou heardest my voice. 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep. 

In the midst of the seas; 

And the floods compassed me about: 

All thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 

Then I said, ^I am cast out of thy sight; 

Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.' 

The waters compassed me about. 

Even to the soul: 

The depth closed me round about. 

The weeds were wrapped about my head. 

I went down to the bottom of the mountains; 

The earth with her bars was about me for ever: 



320 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, 

Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me 

1 remembered the Lord: 

And my prayer came in unto thee, 

Into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities 

Forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee 

With the voice of thanksgiving; 

I will pay that that I have vowed. 

Salvation is of the Lord.'' 

And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah 
upon dry land. 

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, 
saying, ^^ Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach 
Tonah ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ preaching that I bid thee." So Jonah 

Preaches arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the 
m ineve ^qj-^j Qf ^j^g Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding 
great city of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter 
into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, '^Yet 
forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." 

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a 
fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the 
Nineveh least of them. For word came unto the king of 
Repents Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid 
his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat 
in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published 
through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, say- 
ing, *^ Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: 
let them not feed, nor drink water: but let man and beast be 
covered with sackcloth, and crying mightily unto God: yea, 
let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence 
that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and re- 
pent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not ? " 



JONAH 321 

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil 
way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he 
would do unto them; and he did it not. But it God's 

displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very Mercy 

angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, ' ^ I pray thee, 
O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country ? 
Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art 
a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kind- 
ness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, 
take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to 
die than to live." 

Then said the Lord, ^^Doest thou well to be angry?" So 

Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, 

and there made him a booth, and sat under it in 

Jonah IS 
the shadow, till he might see what would become Reproved 

of the city. And the Lord prepared a gourd, and ^^^ ^^^ 

made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a 

shadow over his head, to deHver him from his grief. So Jonah 

was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm 

when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that 

it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that 

God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the 

head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, 

and said, ^^It is better for me to die than to live." 

And God said to Jonah, '^Doest thoir well to be angry for the 

gourd ? " And he said, ^^ I do well to be angry, even unto death." 

Then said the Lord, ^'Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for 

the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; 

which came up in a night, and perished in a night: and should 

not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than 

sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their 

right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" 

[Jonah i-iv.] 



322 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 



DANIEL 

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah 

came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and 

besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of 

nezzar Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the 

Takes house of God: which he carried into the land of 

Jerusalem _ . 

Shmar to the house of his god ; and he brought the 

vessels into the treasure house of his god. 

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, 
that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of 
Boys the king's seed, and of the princes; children in 

Chosen whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful 
in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding 
science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's 
palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue 
of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily pro- 
vision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so 
nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might 
stand before the king. Now among these were of the children 
of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah : unto whom 
the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel 
the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and 
to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. 

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile 

himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine 

. , which he drank: therefore he requested of the 

Daniel 
Refuses prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile 

the King's himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour 
Meat 

and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, ^^I fear 

my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your 

drink : for why should he see your faces worse liking than the 



DANIEL 323 

children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me en- 
danger my head to the king.'' 

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs 
had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ^^ Prove 
thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us 
pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances 
be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children 
that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest 
deal with thy servants." So he consented to them in this matter, 
and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their 
countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the 
children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus 
Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that 
they should drink; and gave them pulse. 

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and 
skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understand- 
ing in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of _ . , 
1 . . . Daniel 
the days that the king had said he should bring Better 

them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought , *^^^ *^^ 

Astrologers 
them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king 

communed with them; and among them all was found none 
like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood 
they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and un- 
derstanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them 
ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that 
were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the 
first year of king Cyrus. 

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, 
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was 
troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the jj^^ 

king commanded to call the magicians, and the King 

astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, reams 

for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before 



324 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the king. And the king said unto them, ^^I have dreamed a 
dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream/' Then 
spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, ^^O king, live for 
ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the inter- 
pretation.'' The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, 
^^The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto 
me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut 
in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye 
shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive 
of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me 
the dream, and the interpretation thereof." They answered 
again and said, ^^Let the king tell his servants the dream, and 
we will shew the interpretation of it." The king answered and 
said, ^^I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because 
ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known 
unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have 
prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the 
time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know 
that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof." 

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, ^^ There 
is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: 
therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that ask such things 
at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare 
thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can 
shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not 
with flesh." For this cause the king was angry and very furious, 
and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And 
the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and 
they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch 
the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay 
the wise men of Babylon: he answered and said to Arioch the 
king's captain, ^'Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" 



DANIEL 325 

Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel 
went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, 
and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then 
Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hana- 
niah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they would 
desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; 
that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of 
the wise men of Babylon. 

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. 
Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and 
said, 

''Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: j)j.eam Re- 

For wisdom and might are his: vealed to 

And he changeth the times and the seasons: ^^^^ 

He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: 

He giveth wisdom unto the wise, 

And knowledge to them that know imderstanding: 

He revealeth the deep and secret things: 

He knoweth what is in the darkness, 

And the light dwelleth with him. 

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers. 

Who hast given me wisdom and might. 

And hast made known unto me now what we desired of 
thee: 

For thou hast now made known unto us the king's 
matter." 

Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had 
ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said 
thus unto him; ''Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring 
me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the inter- 
pretation." Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king 
in haste, and said thus unto him, "I have found a man o£ the 



326 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the 
interpretation." The king answered and said to Daniel, whose 
name was Belteshazzar, ^^Art thou able to make known unto 
me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation there- 
of?" Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, 
^^The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise 
men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto 
the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, 
and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be 
in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon 
thy bed, are these; as for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into 
thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: 
and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall 
come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me 
for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their 
sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, 
and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 

^^Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This 
great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; 

^ . , and the form thereof was terrible. This image's 

Daniel . . 

Reveals head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of 

the King's silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of 

iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou 

sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote 

the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake 

them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the 

silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became 

like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors ; and the wind 

carried them away, that no place was found for them : and the 

stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and 

filled the whole earth. 

^^This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof 

before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the 



DANIEL . 327 

God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, 
and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the 
beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath The Inter- 
he given into thine hand, and hath made thee pretation 
ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after 
thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another 
third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 
And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron : forasmuch as 
iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things : and as iron that 
breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And 
whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, 
and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall 
be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest 
the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were 
part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly 
strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed 
with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of 
men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is 
not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the 
God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: 
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall 
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall 
stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was 
cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in 
pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the 
great God hath made known to the king what shall come to 
pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation 
thereof sure." 

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and wor- 
shipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an 
oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king Daniel 

answered unto Daniel, and said, ''Of a truth it is. Honoured 
that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a 



328 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.'' 
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many 
great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of 
Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of 
Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the prov- 
ince of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose 
height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: 
The Image he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of 
of Gold Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to 
gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, 
the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all 
the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the 
image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the 
princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treas- 
urers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the 
provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the 
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up ; and they stood 
before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an 
herald cried aloud, ^'To you it is commanded, O people, 
nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of 
the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all 
kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image 
that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth 
not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the 
midst of a burning fiery furnace." Therefore at that time, when 
all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, 
psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and 
the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that 
Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and 
accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchad- 



DANIEL 329 

nezzaXy ^'O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a 

decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the comet, 

flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all jews 

kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the Accused 

golden image: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, 

that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of 

the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; 

these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy 

gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." 

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to 

bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought 

these men before the kiner. Nebuchadnezzar spake 

Jews 
and said unto them, ^^Is it true, O Shadrach, Refuse to 

Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, ^^^^^^? 
1-1 1 1 • 1 • 1 T 1 -^ the Idol 

nor worship the golden image which I have set up ? 

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the 
comet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds 
of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have 
made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour 
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God 
that shall deHver you out of my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, 
and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, ^^O Nebuchad- 
nezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If 
it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the 
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 
O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will 
not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou 
hast set up." 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his 
visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, Fiery 

and Abed-nego : therefore he spake, and commanded Furnace 
that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than 



330 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty 
men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their 
hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst 
of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's 
commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the 
flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the 
burning fiery furnace. * 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up 
in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, ''Did not we 
cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They 
answered and said unto the king, ''True, O king.'' He an- 
swered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the 
midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the 
fourth is like the Son of God." 

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning 
fiery furnace, and spake, and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and 
^j^g Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come 

Jews Are forth, and come hither." Then Shadrach, Meshach, 

onoure ^^^ Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's 
counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men upon whose 
bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head 
singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire 
had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, 
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 
who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted 
in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their 
bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except 
their own God. Therefore I make a decree. That every people, 



DANIEL 331 

nation and language, which speak any thing amiss against the 
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in 
pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there 
is no other God that can deHver after this sort." Then the king 
promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province 
of Babylon. 

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, lan- 
guages, that dwell in all the earth; ^^ Peace be multiplied unto 
you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that 
the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his 
signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an 
everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to 
generation. 

^^I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourish- 
ing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the 
thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head 
troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring Dream of 

in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they Nebuchad- 
•111 1 . • r nezzar 

might make known unto nie the mterpretation of 

the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, 

the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers : and I told the dream 

before them; but they did not make known unto me the 

interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before 

me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name 

of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and 

before him I told the dream, saying, 'O Belteshazzar, master 

of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy 

gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the 

visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation 

thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed ; I 

saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height 

thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the 

height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to 



332 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the end of all the earth: the leaves thereof were fair, and the 
fruit thereof much, and it was meat for all: the beasts of the 
field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt 
in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the 
visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and 
an holy one came down from heaven; he cried aloud, and said 
thus, ' ' Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off 
his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from 
under it, and the fowls from his branches : nevertheless leave the 
stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and 
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with 
the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the 
grass of the earth: let his heart be changed from a man's, and 
let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass 
over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and 
the demand by the word of the holy ones : to the intent that the 
living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of 
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over 
it the basest of men." This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar 
have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpre- 
tation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom 
are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but 
thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.'" 

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for 
one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, 
and said, ^^Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpreta- 
tion thereof, trouble thee." 

Belteshazzar answered and said, ^^My lord, the dream be 
to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine 
The Inter- enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, 
pretation ^^^ ^^^ strong, whose height reached unto the 
heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth ; whose leaves were 
fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; 



1 



DANIEL . 333 

under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose 
branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: it is 
thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy great- 
ness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion 
to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher 
and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, ^ Hew 
the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots 
thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the 
tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 
and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven 
times pass over him' ; this is the interpretation, O king, and this 
is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the 
king: that they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling 
shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee 
to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of 
heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know 
that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to 
leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure 
unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens 
do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto 
thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities 
by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy 
tranquility." 

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end 
of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of 
Babylon. The king spake, and said, ^ ' Is not this great Babylon, 
that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of 
my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" While the 
word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 
saying, ^'O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The 
kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from 
men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they 



334 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass 
over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the 
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.'' The 
same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and 
he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his 
body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown 
like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 

^^And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up 
mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto 
Nebuchad- ^^' ^^^ ^ blessed the most High, and I praised and 
nezzar honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion 

is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from 
generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth 
are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in 
the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: 
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him. What doest thou ? 
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory 
of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me ; 
and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me ; and I was 
established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added 
unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour 
the King of heaven, all whose works are truth and his ways 
judgment: and those that v/alk in pride he is able to abase." 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his 
lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles 
Belshaz- he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden 
zar's Feast ^j^^ silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar 
had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the 
king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might 
drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were 
taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jeru- 
salem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concu- 
bines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the 



DANIEL 335 

gods, of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of 
stone. 

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and 
wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall 
of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of ^j^^ 

the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance Writing on 
was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so e a 

that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one 
against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrolo- 
gers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, 
and said to the wise men of Babylon, ''Whosoever shall read 
this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be 
clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, 
and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Then came in 
all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, 
nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then 
was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was 
changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 

Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his 
lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and 
said, ' ' O king, live for ever : let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor 
let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy king- 
dom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods ; and in the days of 
thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom 
of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar 
thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the 
magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers ; forasmuch 
as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, 
interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and 
dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the 
king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will 
show the interpretation." 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king 



336 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

spake and said unto Daniel, ^^Art thou that Daniel, which art 
of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my 
Daniel father brought out of Jewry ? I have even heard of 

Called thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light 

and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And 
now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before 
me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto 
me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the 
interpretation of the thing: and I have heard of thee, that thou 
canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou 
canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation 
thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain 
of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the 
kingdom." 

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, ^'Let thy 
gifts be to thyself and give thy rewards to another; yet I will 
read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the 
interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchad- 
nezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and hon- 
our: and for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, 
and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he 
would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom 
he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But 
when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, 
he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory 
from him: and he was driven from the sons of men; and his 
heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the 
wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was 
wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high 
God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over 
it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast 
not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast 
lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have 



DANIEL 337 

brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy 

lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; 

and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, 

iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and 

the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy 

ways, hast thou not glorified: then was the part of the hand sent 

from him; and this writing was written. 

''And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, 

TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the 

thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, . 

and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in Reads the 

the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Hand- 

__ , . , . , . . , , , . T TV «- 1 writing 

Thy kmgdom is divided, and given to the Medes 

and Persians." 

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with 
scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a 
proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler 
in the kingdom. 

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 
And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about three- 
score and two years old. 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and 
twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; and 
over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was Daniel 

first: that the princes might give account unto them. Made 

and the king should have no damage. Then this ^^^^® 

Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because 
an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him 
over the whole realm. 

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion 
against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find 
none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, 
neither was there any error found in him. Then said these 



338 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

men, ''We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, 

except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'' 

_ , Then these presidents and princes assembled 

Princes , ^ \ - ^ - ^ ^ 1 . ..T^. 

Conspire together to the kmg, and said thus unto him, King 

Against Darius, hve for ever. All the presidents of the 
Daniel ^ 

kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the coun- 
sellors, and the captains, have consulted cogether to estabhsh a 
royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall 
ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, 
O king, he shall be cast into the den of hons. Now, O king, 
estabhsh the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not 
changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, 
which altereth not." Wherefore king Darius signed the writing 
and the decree. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went 
into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber 
toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a 
day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did 
aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel 
praying and making supphcation before his God. 

Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning 
the king's decree; ''Hast thou not signed a decree, that every 
man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within 
thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den 
of lions?'' The king answered and said, "The thing is 
true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which 
altereth not." Then answered they and said before the king, 
*'That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of 
Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou 
hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day." 

Then the king when he heard these words, was sore displeased 
with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to dehver him: and 
he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then 



DANIEL 339 

these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, 
*'Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is. 
That no decree nor statute which the king estab- Daniel in 
lisheth may be changed/' Then the king com- the Lions' 
manded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him 
into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, 
^'Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." 
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; 
and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the 
signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed 
concerning Daniel. 

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night 
fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before 
him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king Daniel 

arose very early in the morning, and went in haste Unhurt 
unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried 
with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and 
said to Daniel, ''O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy 
God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from 
the lions?" Then said Daniel unto the king, *^0 king, live 
for ever. My God hath sent his angel,' and hath shut the lions' 
mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him 
innocency was found in me ; and also before thee, O king, have 
I done no hurt." 

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded 
that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was 
taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon 
him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, 
and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and 
they cast them into the den of Hons, them, their children, and 
their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake 
all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the 
den 



340 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and lan- 
guages, that dwell in all the earth ; ' * Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Honour to ^ i^2,ke a decree, that in every dominion of my 
the God of kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of 
^^^® Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for 

ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and 
his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and 
rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in 
earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." 
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign 
of Cyrus the Persian. 



[Daniel i-vi.] 



ESTHER 341 



ESTHER 



Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasue- 
rus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a 
hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) that in Feast of 
those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the Ahasuerus 
throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in 
the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes 
and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles 
and princes of the provinces, being before him: when he shewed 
the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his ex- 
cellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. 
^\nd when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto 
all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both 
unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden 
of the king's palace; where were white, green, and blue, hang- 
ings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings 
and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a 
pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 
And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being 
diverse one from another,) and royal, wine in abundance, ac- 
cording to the state of the king. And the drinking was according 
to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to 
all the officers of his house, that they should do according to 
every man's pleasure. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for 
the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry 

with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, 

and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven cham- ^. , ,. 
1 1 . 1 1 . 1 r *n Disobedi- 

berlams that served m the presence of Ahasuerus ence of 

the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king S^^^f^ 

with the crown royal, to shew the people and the -^ 

princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. ut the 



342 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

queen Vashti refused to come at the king^s commandment by 
his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his 
anger burned in him. 

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, 
(for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and 
judgment), ^^ What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according 
to law, .because she hath not performed the commandment of 
the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?" And Memucan 
answered before the king and the princes, ^^ Vashti the queen 
hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, 
and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king 
Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad 
unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in 
their eyes, when it shall be reported, ' The king Ahasuerus 
commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but 
she came not.' Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media 
say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the 
deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt 
and wrath. If it please the king. Let there go a royal command- 
ment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the 
Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come 
no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal 
estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king's 
decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all 
his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their 
husbands honour, both tor great and small." 

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and 
the king did according to the word of Memucan: for he 
sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every pro- 
vince according to the writing thereof, and to every people 
after their language, that every man should bear rule in his 
own house, and that it should be published according to the 
language of every people. 



ESTHER 343 

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was 
appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and 
what was decreed against her. Then said the king's servants 
that ministered unto him, ^'Let there be fair young virgins 
sought for the king: and let the king appoint officers in all the 
provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all 
the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of 
the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, 
keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be 
given them: and let the maiden which pleaseth the king be 
queen instead of Vashti." And the thing pleased the king; 
and he did so. 

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose 
name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son 
of Kish, a Benjamite; who had been carried away from Jeru- 
salem with the captivity which had been carried away with 
Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of 
Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, 
that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father 
nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom 
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for 
his own daughter. 

So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his 
decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered 
together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody Mordecai 
of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto Presents 
the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper ^ ®^ 

of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she 
obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her 
things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, 
and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the 
king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best 
place of the house of the women. Esther had not shewed her 



344 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she 
should not shew it. And Mordecai walked every day before 
the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and 
what should become of her. 

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahas- 
uerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the 
Ahasuerus ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ women, (for so were the days of 
Loves their purification accomplished, to wit, six months 

with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, 
and with other things for the purifying of the women;) then thus 
came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was 
given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto 
the king's house. In the evening she went, and on the morrow 
she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody 
of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concu- 
bines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king 
delighted in her, and that she were called by name. Now when 
the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, 
who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the 
king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamber- 
lain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained 
favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So 
Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal 
in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh 
year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the 
women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more 
than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her 
head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king 
made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even 
Esther's feast; and he maide a release to the provinces, and gave 
gifts, according to the state of the king. And when the virgins 
were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in 
the king's gate. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor 



ESTHER , 345 

her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the 
commandment of Mordecai, hke as when she was brought up 
with him. 

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of 
the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which 
kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king 
Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told 
it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof 
in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the 
matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on 
a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before 
the king. 

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the 

son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set 

his seat above all the princes that were with him. ,, , 

Mordecai 
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's Refuses 

fifate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the kine; Homage 

to Haman 
had so commanded concerning him. But Mor- 
decai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's 
servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, 
**Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?" Now 
it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he 
hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether 
Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he 
was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, 
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he 
thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had 
shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought 
to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom 
of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth 
year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before 
Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the 



346 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. And Haman said 
unto king Ahasuerus, ^^ There is a certain people scattered 
abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of 
thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither 
keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's 
profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that 
they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of 
silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, 
to bring it into the king's treasuries." And the king took his 
ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Ham- 
medatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto 
Haman, *'The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with 
them as it seemeth good to thee." 

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of 
the first month, and there was written according to all that 
Edict Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, 

to Kill and to the governors that were over every province, 

•'^^^ and to the rulers of every people of every province 
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their 
language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and 
sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by post 
into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to 
perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, 
in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, 
which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a 
prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given 
in every province was published unto all people, that they 
should be ready against that day. The posts went out, being 
hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given 
in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to 
drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. 

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent 
his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into 



ESTHER 347 

the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 
and came even before the king's gate: for none might enter 
into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in Esther 

every province, whithersoever the king's command- Learns of 
ment and his decree came, there was great mourning ^ ^^ 
among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and 
many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her 
chamberlains came and told it her. Then was, the queen ex- 
ceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, 
and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it 
not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamber- 
lains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave 
him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and 
why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street 
of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai 
told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of 
the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's 
treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the 
copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to 
destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, 
and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make 
supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her 
people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of 
Mordecai. 

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him command- 
ment unto Mordecai; ^'All the king's servants, and the people 
of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man 
or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who 
is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except 
such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that 
he may live : but I have not been called to come in unto the king 
these thirty days." And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. 

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, '^ Think not 



348 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

with thyself that thou shah escape in the king's house, more 
than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace 
at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise 
to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house 
shall be destroyed : and who knoweth whether thou art come to 
the kingdom for such a time as this?" 

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, *'Go, 
gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and 
fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day : 
I also and my maidens will fast likewise ; and so will I go in unto 
the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I 
perish." So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all 
that Esther had commanded him. 

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her 

royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, 

over against the king's house: and the king sat upon 

Appears his royal throne in the royal house, over against the 

^^^^If. Rate of the house. And it was so, when the king 

the King _ . _ ,. . , , 

saw Esther the queen standmg m the court, that 

she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to 
Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew 
near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king 
unto her, ^^What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy 
request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the king- 
dom." And Esther answered, ^^If it seem good unto the 
king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet 
that I have prepared for him." Then the king said, ^^ Cause 
Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said." 
So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had* 
prepared. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of 
wine, ^^What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and 
what is thy request ? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be 
performed." Then answered Esther, and said, ^'My petition 



ESTHER 349 

and my request is; if I have found favour in the sight of the king, 
and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform 
my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that 
I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king 
hath said.'' 

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad 
heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that 
he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of 
indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Ha- Prepares 
man refrained himseh: and when he came home, ^^^^^^^^^ 
he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his 
wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the 
multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king 
had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the 
princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover, ^^ Yea, 
Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the 
banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am 
I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me 
nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's 
gate." Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, 
'^ Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak 
thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon : then 
go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet." And the 
thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. 

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded 
to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were 
read before the king. And it was found written, that Mor- 
decai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's 
chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand 
on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, ^^What honour 
and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?" Then said 
the king's servants that ministered unto him, ^^ There is 
nothing done for him." 



350 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

And the king said, ^^Who is in the court?" Now Haman was 
come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto 
The Kine ^^ ^^^^ ^^ hang Mordecai on the gallows that he 
Honours had prepared for him. And the king's servants 
Mordecai ^^j^ ^^^^ j^.^^ ^^ Behold, Haman standeth in the 
court." And the king said, ^'Let him come in." So Haman 
came in. And the king said unto him, ^^What shall be done 
unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?" Now 
Haman thought in his heart, ^^To whom would the king de- 
light to do honour more than to myself?" And Haman 
answered the king, ^^For the man whom the king delighteth 
to honour, let the royal apparel be brought which the king 
useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and 
the crown royal which is set upon his head: and let this 
apparel and horse be dehvered to the hand of one of the king's 
most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom 
the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback 
through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, ^ Thus 
shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to hon- 
our.'" Then the king said to Haman, ^'Make haste, and take 
the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to 
Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing 
fail of all that thou hast spoken." 

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed 
Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street 
of the city, and proclaimed before him, ^^Thus shall it be done 
unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour." And 
Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted 
to his house mourning, and having his head covered. And Ha- 
man told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had 
befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife 
unto him, ^'If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before 
whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against 



ESTHER 351 

him, but shalt surely fall before him.'' And while they were yet 
talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted 
to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the 
queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day 
at the banquet of wine, '^What is thy petition, queen Esther? 
and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and 
it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom." 
Then Esther the queen answered and said, ^^If I have found 
favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my 
life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 
for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, 
and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and 
bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could 
not countervail the king's damage." 

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the 
queen, ^^Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in 
his heart to do so?" And Esther said, ^^The ad- Hainan's 
versary and enemy is this wicked Haman." Then Guile 

Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. ^scovere 
And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath 
went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make 
request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there 
was evil determined against him by the king. 

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the 
place of the banquet of wine. And Harbonah, one of the cham- 
berlains, said before the king, ^'Behold also, the gallows fifty 
cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had 
spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman." 
Then the king said, '^Hang him thereon." So they hanged 
Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. 
Then was the king's wrath pacified. 

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman 



352 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came 
before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken fromHaman, 
and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the 
house of Haman. 

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at 
his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief 
of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised 
against the Jews. Then the king held out the golden sceptre 
toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, and 
said, ^'If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his 
sight, and the things seem right before the king, and I be 
pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised 
by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote 
to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: for 
how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people ? 
or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?" 

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to 
Mordecai the Jew^ ^'Behold, I have given Esther the house of 
Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because 
he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, 
as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's 
ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and 
sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse." 

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third 

month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day 

^, ^ thereof; and it was written according to all that 

TI16 Tews 

Allowed to Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the 

Protect lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the prov- 
Themselves . ^ , ; ^ , _ _ . . . 

mces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hun- 
dred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according 
to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, 
and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to 



ESTHER 353 

their language. And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus^ name, and 
sealed it with the king^s ring, and sent letters by posts on horse- 
back, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 
wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to 
gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, 
to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and 
province that would assault them, both little ones and women, 
and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the 
provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day 
of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. The copy of 
the writing for a commandment to be given in every province 
was pubHshed imto all people, and that the Jews should be 
ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being 
hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And 
the decree was given at Shushan the palace. And Mordecai 
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in Honoured 
royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of 
gold, and with a garment of fine Hnen and purple: and the city 
of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light, and 
gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in 
every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his 
decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good 
day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for 
the fear of the Jews fell upon them. 

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the 
thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and 
his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the 
enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though 
it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them 
that hated them;) the Jews gathered themselves together in 
their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, 
to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could 



354 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. And 
all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the 
deputies, and ofl&cers of the king, helped the Jews; because 
the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great 
in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the 
provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the 
sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would 
unto those that hated them. And in Shushan the palace the 
Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. The ten sons of 
Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew 
they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan 
the palace was brought before the king. And the king said unto 
Esther the queen, ^^The Jews have slain and destroyed five 
hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of 
Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces ? 
now what is thy petition ? and it shall be granted thee : or what 
is thy request further? and it shall be done." Then said 
Esther, ^^If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews 
which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this 
day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the 
gallows." 

And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree 
was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. 
Haman's ^^^ ^^^ ]tY7S that were in Shushan gathered 
Sons themselves together on the fourteenth day also of 

^^^^ the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at 

Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. But the 
other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves 
together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their 
enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but 
they laid not their hands on the prey, on the thirteenth day 



ESTHER 355 

of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same 
rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 

But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the 
thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the 
fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of 
feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages, that 
dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the 
month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, 
and of sending portions one to another. 

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all 
the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, 
both nigh and far, to establish this among them, that they should 
keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth 
day of the same, yearly, as the days wherein the Jews rested 
from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto 
them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: 
that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of 
sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as 
Mordecai had written unto them; because Haman the son of 
Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Feast of 
Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy Purim 

them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, 
and to destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, 
he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he 
devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, 
and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 
Wherefore they call these days Purim after the name of Pur. 
Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which 
they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto 
them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their 
seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as 
it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according 



356 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

to their writing, and according to their appointed time every 
year; and that these days should be remembered and kept 
throughout every generation, every family, every province, and 
every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from 
among the Jews nor the memorial of them pass from their seed. 

Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Morde- 
cai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second 
letter of Purim. And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to 
the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of 
Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, to confirm these 
days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai 
the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they 
had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of 
the fastings and their cry. And the decree of Esther confirmed 
these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book. 

And king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon 
the isles of the sea. And all the acts of his power and of his 
might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, where- 
unto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book 
of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For 
Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great 
among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, 
seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his 
seed. 



[Esther i, 1-13, 15-22; ii-vii, 7, 9, 10; viii-ix, 6; 
ix, 10-32; X.] 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE * 



B. C. 








2350 


The Age of Abraham 






1700 


Descent of the Hebrews into Egypt 




1200 


The Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt | 


1020 


Saul, king of Israel 






1010 


David, king of Israel 






970 
930 


Solomon, king of Israel 




THE DIVIDED KINGDOM | 


Kings of Judah 


Kings of Israel 


Important Events 


Rehoboam 


Jeroboam I 




920 


Abijam 






917 


Asa 


Nadab 
Baasha 
Elah 
Zimri 




890 

875 
875-852 




Omri 
Ahab 


Elijah, the Prophet 






874 


Jehoshaphat 




854 






Shalmaneser II defeats Ahab 
and Ben-hadad 






853 
852 
852-802 




Ahaziah 
Jehoram 


Elisha 






852 






Hazael, king of Syria 


849 


Jehoram 




844 


Ahaziah 






843 

842 




Jehu 




Athaliah 


836 


Joash 






815 
802 
797 




Jehoihaz 
Jehoash 






Amaziah 


782 
778 




Jeroboam II 




Uzziah 


741 

740 




Zechariah 
Shallum 




Jotham 


738 
737 
736 




Menahem 
Pekahiah 
Pekah 






Ahaz 


734 

727 




Hosea 




Hezekiah 


722 






Fall of Samaria. The capital 








of Israel taken by Sargon, 








king of Assyria 


705 






Sennacherib, king of Assyria 


695 


Manasseh 






641 


Amon 






639 


Josiah 






621 
608 






Book of the Law discovered 


Jehoahaz 




607 


Jehoiakim 






607 
606 






Fall of Nineveh 
First Deportation of Jews to 
Babylon 












604 







Nebuchadnezzar, king of 








Babylon 


597 


Jehoiachin 
Zedekiah 






586 


Fall of Jerusalem 






550 






Belshazzar, king of Babylon 


538 






Cyrus takes Babylon 


485 
479 






Xerxes or Ahasuerus 
Esther becomes queen of the 
Medes and Persians 











♦Almost all these dates are taken from the chronological tables given in Ottley's 
"Short History of the Hebrews." 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 

PAGE 

Aaron, ar'on or a'ron {light) 118, 125, 138 

Abagtha, a-bag'tha {given by fortune) 341 

Abana, ab'a-na or a-ba'na {stony) 311 

Abarim, ab'a-rim or a-ba'rim {regions beyond) 170 

Abed-nego, a-bed'ne-g5' {servant or worshipper of Nebo) 322 

Abel, a'bel (vanity) 44 

Abel-meholah, a'bel-me-ho'lah {meadow of dancing) 208 

Abiah, a-bi'ah {father of Jehovah) 237 

Abiel, a'bi-el or a-bi'el {father of strength) 238 

Abiezer, a'bi-e'zer {father of help) 205 

Abiezrite, a'bi-ez'rite {a descendant of Abiezer) 203 

Abigail, ab'i-gail or gel {father of exultation) 265 

Abihail, ab'i-ha'il {father of strength) 344, 356 

Abihu, a-bi'hu {God is my father) 148 

Abimelech, a-bim'e-lek {father of the king) 209 

Abinadab, a-bin'a-dab {father of nobility) 248, 250 

Abinoam, a-bin'o-am or ab'i-no'am {father of pleasantness) . . 200 

Abiram, a-bi'ram {father of loftiness) 162 

Abishai, a-blsh'a-i {father of a gift) ., 263 

Abner, ab'ner {father of light) . . : 259 

Abraham, a'bra-ham {father of a great multitude) 9, 52 

Abram, a'bram {a high father) 31 , 52 

Absalom, ab'sa-lom {father of peace) 276 

Achan, a'kan {troubler) 188 

Achish, a'kish {angry?) 265 

Achor, a'kor {trouble) 190 

Adam, ad'am {red) 42, 185 

Adar, a'dar {fire?) 355 

Admah, ad'mah {red earth) 55 

Adonijah, ad'o-ni'jah {Jehovah is my lord) 281 

Adoni-zedec, a-d6n'i-ze'dek or a-do'ni-ze'dek {lord of justice) 193 

Adoram, a-do'ram {lord of height) 290 

Adriel, a'dri-el {fiock of God) 255 

359 



360 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Agag, a'gS-g {flaming?) 179, 245 

Agagite, a'gag-ite 345 

Ahab, a'hab {uncle) 291 

Ahasuerus, a-has'u-e'rus {king?) 341 

Ahaziah, a'ha-zi'ah {whom Jehovah upholds) 302 

Ahiah, a-hi'ah (brother of Jehovah) 243 

Ahijah, a-hi'jah {same as Ahiah) 287 

Ahimaaz, a-him'a-az (brother of anger) 279 

Ahiman, a-hi'man (brother oj a gift) 159 

Ahimelech, a-him'e-lSk (brother of the king) 263 

Ahinoam, a-hin'o-am or a-hi-no'am (brother of grace) 265 

Ahithophel, a-hith'o-fSl {brother of impiety) 277 

Ahitub, a-hi'tub (brother of goodness) 243 

Ai, a'i {a heap of ruins) 188 

Ajalon, aj'a-16n {place of gazelles) 194 

Amalek, am'a-lek 31, 142, 245 

Amalekites, am'a-lek-ites {descendants of Amalek) 159, 245 

Amittai, a-mit'ta-i 318 

Ammon, am'mon {son of my people) 214 

Ammonites, am'mon-ites {descendants of Ammon) 214 

Amorite, am'or-ite {mountaineer) 55, 111, 116 

Amraphel, am'ra-fel 54 

Anak, a'nak {long necked?) 159 

Aner, a'ner {a young man?) 55 

Aphek, a'fek {strength) 235, 316 

Aphiah, a-f i'ah 238 

Arad, a'rad {wild ass) 168 

Aram, a'ram {height) 176 

Ararat, ar'a-r^t 48 

Arbah, ar'bah 88 

Arioch, a'ri-6k 54, 324 

Amon, ar'non {swift) 175 

Aroer, ar'o-er or a-ro'er {ruins?) 215 

Arumah, a-ru'mah {elevated) 212 

Asa, a'sa {physician) 291 

Asenath, as'e-nath or a-se'nath {she who is of Neith, goddess of the 

Egyptians) 96 

Asher, ash'er {fortunate^ happy) 205 

Askelon, ash'ke-lon {migration) 270 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 361 

PAGE 

Ashpenaz, ash'pe-n3^ 322 

Ashtaroth, ash'ta-r6th {statues of Ashtoreth) 192, 268 

Ashtoreth, ash'to-reth or ash-to'reth (she who enriches) 286 

Ashur, ash'ur (the gracious one?) 180 

Assyria, as-syr'i-a (land of Asshur) 9, 42 

Azariah, az'a-ri'ah (whom Jehovah aids) 322 

Azekah, a-ze'kah (dug over) 194, 249 

Baal, ba'al (lord, master, possessor, owner) 204 

Baal-berith, ba'al-be'rith (lord of covenant) 209 

Baalim, ba'al-im (lords) 294 

Baal-zebub, ba'al-ze'bub (lord of flies) 302 

Baal-zephon, ba'al-ze'fon (sacred to Zephon) 135 

Baasha, ba'a-sha (wicked?) 314 

Babel, ba'bel (confusion) 51 

Babylon, bab'y-lon (Greek form of Babel) 322 

Babylonia 10 

Balaam, ba'lam (destruction?) 173 

Balak, ba'lak (to make empty) 173 

Barak, ba'rak (thunderbolt or lightning) 13, 200 

Bashan, ba'shan (soft, rich soil) 169 

Bath-sheba, bath'she'ba or bath'she-ba (daughter of the oath) . . . 272 

Bechorath, be-ko'rath (offspring of the first birth) 238 

Beer, be'er (a well) 210 

Beer-sheba, be'er-she'ba or be-er'she-ba (well of the oath) 63, 65, 107, 235 

Bela, be'la (destruction) 55 

Belial, be'li-al (worthless) 300 

Belshazzar, bel-shaz'zar (Baal protects) 336 

Belteshazzar, bel'te-shaz'zar (preserve his life) 322 

Benjamin, ben'ja-min (son of the right hand; i.e. fortunate) 98,101, 236 

Benjamite, ben'ja-mite (a man of the tribe of Benjamin) 240, 343 

Beor, be'or 173 

Bera, be'ra 55 

Berith, be'rith (a covenant) 212 

Beth-aven, beth-a'ven (house of vanity; i. e, of idols) 188, 244 

Beth-barah, beth-ba'rah (house of passage) 208 

Beth-el, beth'el (house of God) 52, 87, 189 

Beth-horon,. beth-ho'ron (house of the hollow) 194 

Beth-lehem, bgth'le-hem (house of bread) 88, 227 



362 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Beth-lehem-judah, beth'le-hem-ju'dah {Beth-lehem of Jtcdah). .226, 250 

Beth-peor, beth'pe'or (temple of Peor) 171 

Beth-shan, bSth'shan (house of rest) 268 

Beth-shittah, beth-shit'tah (house of acacias) 208 

Bethuel, beth-u'el (house of God) 67 

Bidkar, bid'kar (cleaver?) 315 

Bigtha, big'tha 341 

Bigthan, big' than (given by God) 345 

Bigthana, big'tha-na (same as Bigthan) 349 

Bilhah, bil'hah (modesty) 79 

Birsha, bir'sha 55 

Biztha, biz'tha 341 

Boaz, bo'az (fleetness) 227 

Bozez, bo'zez (shining) 243 

Cain, kain (possession) 44 

Caleb, ka'leb (a dog) 160 

Canaan, ka'nan or ka'na-an (low region) 9, 65 

Canaanite, ka'nan-ite (a zealot) 160, 168 

Carcas, kar'kas 341 

Carmel, kar'mel (a park) 245, 296 

Carmelite, kar'mel-ite (a native of Carmel) 265 

Carmi, kar'mi (a vine dresser) 188 

Chaldeans, kal-de'ans (inhabitants of Chaldea) 322 

Chaldees, kal'dees or kal-dees' (same as Chaldeans) 52, 322 

Chedorlaomer, ked'or-la'o-mer or ked'or-la-o'mer (glory of ?) 54 

Chemosh, ke'mosh (subduer) 286 

Cherethites, ker'eth-ites (Cretans?) 277 

Cherith, ke'rith (gorge?) 291 

Cherubim, cher'u-bim (plural of Cherub) 44 

Chilion, kil'i-on or ki-li'on (wasting away) 226 

Chittim, kit'tim (Cyprus?) 181 

Cushi, ku'shi (black) 279 

Cyrus, cy'rus (sun) 10, 323 

Dagon, da'gon (fish) 223 

Damascus, da-mas'kus (activity?) 55, 298 

Dan, dan (judge) 55, 171, 218 

Danites 217 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 363 

PAGE 

Daniel, dan'iel or d^n'yel {God's judge) 322 

Darius, da-ri'us {governor?) 338 

Dathan, da'than 162 

David, da'vid {beloved) 10, 233, 234 

Debir, de'bir {a recess) 193 

Deborah, deb'o-rah {hee) 13, 200 

Delilah, de-li'lah or del'i-lah {delicate) 223 

Dothan, do'than {two wells or cisterns) 90 

Dura, du'rah {town) 328 

Ebed, e'bed {servant) 211 

Eben-ezer, eb'en-e'zer {stone of help) 235 

Eber, e'ber {the region beyond) 181 

Edar, e'dar {flock) 88 

Eden, e'den {pleasantness) 41 

Edom, e'dom {red) 72, 168 

Edomites, e'dom-ites {inhabitants of Edom) 286 

Edrei, ed're-i {strong) 169 

Eglon, eg'lon 7 193 

Egypt, e'gypt {black) 9, 54 

Egyptian, e-gyp'tian or shan {a native of Egypt) 56, 102 

Ehud, e'hud {joined together?) 200 

Ekron, ek'ron {eradication) 253, 302 

Elah, e'lah {terebinth) 250 

Elam, e'lam ^ 54 

El-beth-el, el'beth'el {the house of God) 88 

Eldad, el'dad {whom God loves) 157 

Eleazar, e'le-a'zar or e-le'a-zar {whom God aids) 170 

El-elohe-Isreal, el'e-l6'he-is'ra-el {God, the God of Israel) 87 

Eli, e'li {height) 234 

Eliab, e-li'ab {whose father is God) 162, 250 

Eliam, e-ll'am {people of God) 272 

Eliezer, e'li-e'zer {my God is help) 56, 143 

Elijah, e-li'jah {my God is Jehovah) 36, 291 

Elim, e'lim {oaks) 139 

Elimelech, e-lim'e-lek {to whom God is king) 226 

Elisha, e-li'sha {to whom God is salvation) 298 

Ellasar, el'la-sar 54 

En-dor, en'dor {fountain of Dor) 266 



364 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

En-gedi, en'ge'di or en'gedi (fountain of the kid) 261 

En-hakkore, en'hak'ko-re (fountain of him that calleth) 222 

Ephes-dammim, e'fes-dam'mim (boundary of blood) 249 

Ephraim, e'fra-im (fruitful?) 97, 112, 199 

Ephraimites, e'fra-im-ites (inhabitants of Ephraim) 216 

Ephrath, ef'rath or e'frath (fruitful?) 88, 232 

Ephrathites, ef'rath-ites (inhabitants of Ephrath) ■. 226, 250 

Ephron, e'fron (of or belonging to a calf) 65, 111 

Esau, e'sau (hairy) 72, 75, 196 

Eshcol, ^sh'coi (cluster) 55, 159 

Eshtaol '. 218 

Esther, es'ther or es'ter (star) 12, 343 

Etam, e'tam (a place of ravenous creatures) 221 

Etham, e'tham (boundary of the sea?) 135 

Ethbaal, eth'ba'al (living with Baal) 291 

Ethiopia, e'thi-o'pi-a (region of burnt faces) 42, 352 

Ethiopian, e'thi-o'pi-an (a native of Ethiopia) 157 

Euphrates, eu-fra'tes (the fertile river?) 42, 182 

Eve, eve (life) 44 

Ezel, e'zel (departure) 259 

Ezra 10 

Gaal, ga'al (loathing) 211 

Gaash, ga'ash (shaking) 199 

Galeed, gal'e-ed (witness-heap) 83 

Gath, gath (wine-press) ". 249, 265 

Gaza, ga'za (strong or fortified) 222 

Gazer, ga'zer (place cut off) 272 

Gazites, ga'zites (inhabitants of Gaza) 222 

Geba, ge'ba (hill) 272 

Gehazi, ge-ha'zi (valley of vision) 308 

GentUes, gen'tiles 200 

Gerizim, ger'i-zim (persons living in a desert) 209 

Gershom, ger'shom (expulsion) 115, 143 

Geshur, ge'shur (a bridge) 276 

Gibeah, gib'e-ah (hill) 243 

Gibeon, gib'e-on (pertaining to a hill) 192, 283 

Gideon, gid'e-on (one who cuts down) . ^ 203, 208 

Gihon, gi'hon (a river) 42 

Gilboa, gil-bo'a or gil'bo-a (bubbling fountain) 265 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMjES 365 

PAGE 

Gilead, gil'e-ad (hill of witness) 81, 90, 171 

Gileadite, gire-ad-ite (inhabitant of Gilead) 214 

Gilgal, gil'gal (circle) 192, 241 

Giloh, gi'loh (exile) 277 

Gilonite, gi'lo-mte (inhabitant of Gilo) 277 

Girgashite, gir'ga-shite or site (dwelling in a clayey soil) 197 

Gittites, git'tites (inhabitants of Gath) 277 

God, god 9, 55, 249 

Goliath, go-li'ath (exile?) 249 

Gomorrah, go-mor'rah 54 

Goshen, go'shen 107, 125 

Gur,- gljr (a young lion) t 316 

HachUah, hak'i-lah (dark) 263 

Hadassah, ha-das'sah (myrtle) 343 

Hagar, ha'gar (flight) 56 

Hai, ha'i (same as Ai) 52 

Ham, ham (warm) 47 

Haman, ha'man 348 

Hamath, ha'math (fortress) 159 

Hammedatha, ham-med'a-tha (given by the moon?) 352 

Hamor, ha'mor (ass) 87, 211 

Hananiah, han'a-ni'ah (whom Jehovah graciously gave) 322 

Haran, ha'ran (mountaineer) 52, 75 

Harbona or Harbonah, har-bo'nah 341 

Harod, ha'rod (terror) 205 

Harosheth, ha-ro'sheth (carving) 200 

Hatach, ha'tak 347 

Havilah, hav'i-lah 42, 245 

Hazael, haz'a-el or ha'za-el (whom God watches over) 298 

Hazeroth, ha-ze'roth (villages) 157 

Hazor, ha'zor (castle) 200 

Heber, he'ber (Eber, fellowship) 200 

Hebrew, he'bru (the language of the Jews) 14, bb, 114 

Hebrews, he'bruz (descendants of Eber) 9, 114 

Hebron, he'bron (alliance) 54, 88 

Hegai or Hege, heg'a-i or he'ge 343 

Heshbon, hesh'bon (counting) 169, 192 

Heth, heth 65, 111 

Hiddekel, hid'de-kel 42 



366 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Hiram, hi'ram {noble?) 271, 285 

Hittites, hit'tites {descendants of Heth) 71, 111, 116 

Hivites, hi'vites {villagers) 116, 153 

Hobab, ho'bab {beloved) 200 

Hobah, ho'bah {a hiding place) 55 

Hoham, ho'ham 193 

Hophni, h6f'ni {pugilist) 236 

Hor, hor {mountain) 168 

Horeb, ho'reb {desert) 115 

Hormah, hor'mah {a devoting, a place laid waste) 169 

Hur, htir {cavern) 142, 149 

Ibleam, ib'le-am {he destroys the people) 31 6 

I-chabod, ik'a-bod {inglorious) 34, 243 

India, ind'i-a 352 

Isaac, r$ak {laughter) 57, 111 

Ishmael, ish'ma-el {whom God hears) 57 

Ishmeelites, ish'me-el-ites {Ishmaelites) 91 

Israel, i§'ra-el {soldier of God) 10, 98, 112 

Israelite, i§'ra-el-ite {descendants of Israel) 127 

Ittai, it'ta-i {plowman) 278 

Izhar, iz'har {oil) 162 

Jaazer, ja-a'zer or ja'a-zer {whom God aids) 169 

Jabbok, jab'bok {pouring out) Sb 

Jabesh, ja'besh {dry) 268 

Jabesh-gilead, ja'besh-gire-ad {Jabesh of Gilead) 268 

Jabin, ja'bin {whom God considered) 200 

Jacob, ja'kob {supplanter) 9, 72, 80 

Jael, ja'el {wild she-goat) 201 

Jair, ja'ir {God enlightens) 343 

Japheth, ja'feth {extension) 47 

Japhia, ja-fi'a {splendid) 193 

Jarmuth, jar'muth {height) 193 

Jasher, ja'sher {upright) 194 

Jebusites, jeb'u-sites {descendants of Jebus, son of Canaan) 116, 153 

Jeconiah, jek'o-ni'ah {Jehovah establishes) 343 

Jegar-sahadutha, je'gar-sa'ha-da'tha {the heap of testimony) 83 

Jehoahaz 316 

Jehoiakim, je-hoi'a-kim {Jehovah has set up) 322 

Jehoash 316 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 367 

PAGE 

Jehoram, je-ho'ram {Jehovah is high) 315 

Jehoshaphat, je-hosh'a-fat {whom Jehovah judges) 301 

Jehovah, je-ho'vah {the Eternal one) 121 

Jehovah- jireh, je-ho'vah-ji'reh {Jehovah will provide) 64 

Jehovah-nissi, je-ho'vah-nis'si {Jehovah my banner) 143 

Jehovah-shalom, je-ho'vah-sha'lom {Jehovah send peace) 204 

Jehu, je'hu {Jehovah is He?) 298 

Jephthah, jgf'thah {God opens) 214 

Jephunneh, je-fiin'neh {for whom it is prepared) 160 

Jericho, jer'i-ko {a fragrant place) 34, 170 

Jeroboam, jer'o-bo'am {whose people are many) 287 

Jerubbaal, je-rub'ba-al {let Baal plead) 205 

Jerubbesheth, je-rtib'be-sheth {let shame plead) 273 

Jerusalem, je-ru'sa-lem {founded in peace?) 10, 193 

Jeshimon, jesh'i-mon {the waste) 178, 263 

Jesse, jgs'se {gift?) 233 

Jethro, je'thro or jeth'ro {excellence) 118, 143 

Jew, ju or ju {an Israelite) 328 

Jewry, ju'ry {old English name for Judea) 336 

Jews, jus {the inhabitants of Judea) 10 

Jezebel, jez'e-bSl {unmarried) 291 

Jezreel, jez're-el {God scatters) 205 

Jezreelite, jez're-el-ite {an inhabitant of Jezreel) 299 

Jezreelitess, jez're-el-i'tess ^ 265 

Joab, jo'ab {Jehovah is father) 263 

Joash, jo'ash {whom Jehovah supports?) 203 

Joel, jo'el {Jehovah is might) 237 

Jonah, jo'nah {dove) 318 

Jonathan, j6n'a-than {whom Jehovah gave) 242 

Joppa, j6p'pa {beauty?) 318 

Joram, jo'ram {Jehoram) 314 

Jordan, jor'dan {flowing down) 54, 84 

Joseph, jo'sef {he shall add) 86, 90 

Joshua, josh'u-a {Jehovah is salvation) 10, 142 

Jotham, jo'tham {Jehovah is upright) 209 

Judah, ju'dah {praised) 10, 90, 221 

Kadesh, ka'desh {consecrated) 159, 167 

Kedesh, ke'desh {sanctuary) 200 



368 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Kedesh-naphtali, ke'desh-naf'ta-li 200 

Kenites, ken'ites {descendants of an unknown man named Kain) 

180, 200, 245 

Keturah, ke-tu'rah {incense) 71 

Kibroth-hattaavah, kib'roth-hat-ta'a-vah {graves of lust) ' 157 

Kirjath-arba, kir'jath-ar'ba {city of Arba) 65 

Kirjath-huzoth, kir'jath-hu'zoth {city of streets) 176 

Xish, kJLsh {bow) 238, 343 

Kishon, ki'shon {torture) 200, 296 

Xohath, ko'hath {assembly) 162 

Xorah, ko'rah {bald) , 162 

Laban, la'ban {white) 76, 79 

Lachish, la'kish {impregnable) 193 

Lahai-roi, la-hai'roi {to the living in sight) 70 

Lapidoth, lap'i-doth {torches) 200 

Leah, le'ah {languid) 78, 80, 232 

Lebanon, leb'a-non {the white mountain) 182 

Lehi, le'hi {jaw-bone) 221 

Levi, le'vi {associate?) 152 

Levites, le'vites {the descendants of Levi) 13,118 

Lot, lot {veil) 52 

Liiz, luz {almond tree) 76, 87 

Machir, ma'kir {sold) 112 

Machpelah, mak-pe'lah {a doubling) 65, 111 

Mahalath, ma'ha-lath {a musical instrument) 76 

Mahanaim, ma'ha-na'im {two camps) 84 

Mahlon, mah'lon {a sick person) 226 

Makkedah, mak-ke'dah {place of shepherds?) 194 

Mamre, mam're (fatness) 54, 65 

Manasseh, ma-nas'seh {one who causes to forget) 97, 112 

Manassites, ma-nas'sites {members of the tribe of Manasseh) 216 

Manoah, ma-no'ah {rest) 217 

Maoch, ma'ok {oppressed?) 265 

Mara, ma'ra {sad) 227 

Marah, ma'rah (bitter) 138 

Massah, mas'sah (temptation) 142 

Matri, ma'tri {rainy) 242 

Medad, me'dad 157 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 369 

PAGE 

Medes, medes {inhabitants of Media) 338 

Media, me'di-a 10 

Megiddo, me-gld'do (place of troops) 316 

Meholathite, me-hol'ath-ite or me-ho'lath-ite (native of Meholah) . 255 

Mehuman, me-hu'man 341 

Melchi-shua, mel'ki-shu'a (king of aid) 268 

Melchizidek, mel-kiz'e-dek (king of righteousness) 55 

Melzar, mel'zar (steward) 323 

Memucan, me-mu'kan 342 

Mene, me'ne (numbered) 337 

Meonenim, me-on'e-nim 212 

Merab, me'rab (increase) 255 

Meribah, mer'i-bah (water of strife) 142, 168 

Meshach, me'shak 322 

Mesopotamia, mes'o-po-ta'mi-a (amidst the rivers) 66 

Michal, mi'kal (brook) 255 

Michmash, mik'mash (treasured) 243 

Midian, mid'i-an (strife) 114, 118 

Midianites, mid'i-an-ites (people of Midian) 91 

Migdol, mig'dol 135 

Migron, mig'ron (a precipice) 243 

Milcah, mil'kah (counsel) 67 

Milcom, mil'kom (king) 286 

Millo, mil'lo (a mound) 210, 287 

Minnith, min'nith (allotment) 215 

Miriam, mir'i-am (rebellion) 138, 157 

Mishael, mish'a-el (who is what God is?) 322 

Mizpah, miz'pah (a lookout) 83 

Mizpeh, miz'peh (watch-tower) 214, 242 

Moab, mo'ab (progeny of a father) 170, 226 

Moabites, mo'ab-ites (people of Moab) 286 

Moabitess, mo'ab-i'tess 227 

Molech, mo'lek (Moloch, king) 286 

Mordecai, mor'de-kai (worshipper of Merodach?) 343 

Moreh, mo'reh (archer) 52, 205 

Moriah, mo-ri'ah (provided by Jehovah) 63 

Moses, mo'ses (saved from the water) 9, 113 

Naaman, na'a-man (pleasantness) 309 



370 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Nabal, na'bal (foolish) 265 

Naboth, na'both (fruits?) 298 

Nachor, na'kor (snorting) 196 

Nadab, na'dab (liberal) 148 

Nahor, na'hor (snorting) 66, 77 

Naioth, na'yoth (habitations) 257 

Naomi, na'o-mi or na-o'mi (pleasant) 226 

Naphtali, naf'ta-li (my wrestling) 171, 205 

Nathan, na'than (gift) 274 

Nazarite, naz'a-rite (one separated) 217 

Nebajoth, ne-ba'yoth (high places) 76 

Nebat, ne'bat (aspect) 287 

Nebo, ne'bo (a lofty place) 171 

Nebuchadnezzar, neb'u-kad-ngz'zar (Nebo protect the crown) . , 10, 322 

Nekemihh 10 

Hfei, n^T (light) 263 

Wimshi,Y)im'sh.i (discloser?) 298,313 

Nineveh, nin'e-veh (dwelling?) 318 

Nisan, ni'san 345 

Noah, no'ah (rest) 46 

Nod, n6d (flight) 45 

Nun, niin (fish) 157,160 

Obadiah, o'ba-di'ah (worshipper of Jehovah) 293 

Obed, 6'bed (worshipping God) 233 

Og, og (circle?) 169, 183 

Omri, om'ri (like a sheaf?) 291 

On, 5n (the sun) 96,162 

Ophir, o'fir 285 

Ophrah, of'rah (fawn) 203 

Oreb, o'reb (raven) 208 

Orpah, or'pah (hind?) 226 

Padan-aram, pa'dan-a'ram (the plain of Syria) 75, 76 

Palestine 10 

Paran, pa'ran (cavernous) 63, 158 

Peleth, pe'leth (swiftness) 162 

Pelethites, pe'leth-ites (runners) 277 

Peniel, pe-ni'el (the face of God) 85 

Penuel, pe-nu'el (penieT) 86 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 371 

PAGE 

Peor, pe'or {point) 178 

Peres, pe'res {divided) 337 

Perizzites, per'iz-zites (belonging to a village) 54, 116 

Persia, per'sha or shi-a 10 

Persian, per'shan (belonging to Persia) 337 

Pethor, pe'thor 173 

Pharaoh, fa'ro or fa'ra-o {the sun) 9, 53, 135 

Pharez, f a'rez (breach) 232 

Pharpar, far'par {swift) 310 

Philistines, fi-lis'tines {wanderers) 217 

Phinehas, fin'e-has {serpent's mouth) 236 

Phurah, fu'rah {branch?) 206 

Pi-hahiroth, pi'ha-hi'roth {where sedge grows) 135 

Piram, pi'ram {like a wild ass) 193 

Pisgah, pts'gah {a part, boundary) 171 

Pison, pi' son (flowing stream?) 42 

Pithom, pi'thom 113 

Potiphar, pot'i-fer (belonging to the sun) 91 

Poti-pherah, po-tif e-rah or pot'i-fe'rah (Potiphar) 96 

Pur, piir {a lot) 355 

Purim, pu'rim {lots) 355 

Raamses, ra-am'ses {son of the sun) 113 

Rabbah, rab'bah {capital city) .- 272 

Rachel, ra'chel {ewe) 78, 232, 241 

Rahab, ra'hab (broad) 182 

Ramah, ra'mah {high place) 200, 237 

Ramath-lehi, ra'math-le'hi {height of Levi) 222 

Rameses, ra-me'ses or ram'e-ses {Raamses) 109, 134 

Ramoth-gilead, ra'moth-gire-ad {heights of Gilead) 301 

Rebekah, re-bek'ah {a noose) 69, 111 

Rehob, re'hob {street) 159 

Rehoboam, re'ho-bo'am {who enlarges the people) 288, 289 

Rephaim, ref'a-im {giants) 272 

Rephidim, ref'i-dim (supports) 142, 145 

Reuben, ru'ben {behold a son?) 90, 162 

Reuel, ru'el Qriend of God) 114 

Rimmon, rim'mon {pomegranate) 310 

Ruth, ruth {friendship) 12, 226 



372 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Salem, sa'lem {perfect) 55 

Samaria, sa-ma'ri-a {guard) 291 

Samson, sam'son {like the sun) 217 

Samuel, sam'u-el {heard of God ) 13, 234 

Sarah, sa'rah {princess) 57 

Sarai, sa'rai {contentious?) 52 

Saul, saul {asked for) 10, 238 

Sechu, se'ku {watch-tower) 257 

Seir, se'ir {hairy) 84, 87, 196 

Seneh, se'neh {crag, thorn) 243 

Shaaraim, sha'a-ra'im {two gates) 253 

Shaashgaz, sha-ash'gaz (beauty's servant) 344 

Shadrach, sha'drak 322 

Shalem, sha'lem {safe, perfect) 239 

Shalim, sha'lim {foxes) 87 

Shalisha, shaFi-sha {a third part) 238 

Shalmaneser, Shal-man-e'ser 10 

Shammah, sham'mah {desert) 248 

Shaphat, sha'fat {]udge) 298 

Shaveh, sha'veh {plain) 55 

Sheba, she'ba {an oath) 284 

Shebarim, sheb'a-rim (breaches) 189 

Shechem, she'kem (back, shoulder) 87, 89, 196 

Shem, shem {name) 47 

Shemeber, shem-e'ber or shem'eber {soaring on high?) 55 

Sheshai,^she'shai {clothed in white?) 159 

Sheth, sheth {tumult) 180 

Shibboleth, shib'bo-leth {an ear of corn or a flood) 216 

Shiloh, shrioh {rest) 235 

Shilonite, shi'lo-nite {native of Shiloh) 287 

Shimei, shim'e-i {my fame) 343 

Shinab, shi'nab {hostile?) 55 

Shinar, shl'nar 51, 54, 322 

Shishak, shi'shak {illustrious) 288 

Shittim, shit'tim {acacias) 182 

Shochoh, sho'koh {hedge) 249 

Shunammite, shu'nam-mite {inhabitant of Shunem) 308 

Shunem, shu'nem {two resting-places) 265 

Shur, sh<ir {fort) 138 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 373 

PAGE 

Shushan, shu'shan 343 

Sibboleth, sib'bo-leth {see shibboleth) 216 

Sichem, si'kem (the shoulder-blade) 52 

Siddim, sid'dim (the plains) 55 

Sihon, si'hon (brush) 169, 183 

Simeon, sim'e-on (a hearkening) 99 

Sin, sin (clay) 139 

Sinai, si'nai, si'nai or si'nai (pointed) 139, 145 

Sisera, sis'e-ra (binding in chains) 200 

Sivan, si' van (bright) 352 

Sodom, sod'om (burning) 54 

Solomon, sol'o-mon (peaceable) 10, 276, 283 

Sorek, so'rek (choice vine) 223 

Succoth, siik'koth (booths) 87, 134 

Syria, syr'i-' 9, 276 

Sjrrian, syr'i-an (inhabitant of Syria) 81, 301 

Tabbath, tab'bath (pleasantness) 208 

Tabor, ta'bor (height) 200, 241 

Talmai, tal'mai (abounding in furrows) 159 

Tamar, ta'mar (a palm tree) 232 

Tarshish, tar'shish 318 

Tebeth, te'beth 344 

Tekel, te'kel (weighed) 337 

Telaim, tel'a-im or te-la'im (lambs) 245 

Terah, te'rah (a station?) ' 52, 196 

Teresh, te'resh (severe?) 349 

Thebez, the'bez (brightness) 213 

Tidal, trdal (dread) 54 

Timnath, tim'nath (a portion) 219 

Timnath-serah, tim'nath-se'rah (portion of the remainder) 199 

Timnite, tim'nite (a man of Timna) 221 

Tishbite, tish'bite (an inhabitant of Tishbe) 300 

Tob, tab (good) 214 

Tyre, tyre (rock) 272 

Upharsin, u-f ar'sin (and dividers) 337 

Ur, tx (light) 52 

Uriah, u-ri'ah (light of Jehovah) 272 

Urim, u'rim (light) 170, 266 



374 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

PAGE 

Vashti, va^sh'ti {beautiful) 342 

Zaanaim, za'a-na'im (wanderings?) 200 

Zabdi, zab'di {the gift of Jehovah) 188 

Zadok, za'dok {just) 279 

Zalmon, zal'mon {shady) 213 

Zaphnath-paaneah, zaf'nath-pa'a-ne'ah {prince of the life of the age) 96 

Zarephath, zar'e-fath {workshop for refining metals) 291 

Zaretan, zar'e-taii 185 

Zarhites, zar'hites {persons descended from Zerah) 190 

Zeboim, ze-bo'im {gazelles) ., 55 

Zebul, ze'bul {habitation) 211 

Zebulun, zeb'u-lun 200 

Zeeb, ze'eb or zeeb {wolf) 208 

Zelzah, zel'zah {shade in the heat) 241 

Zerah, ze'rah {dawn) 188 

Zereda, zgr'e-da {cool) 287 

Zererath, zer'e-rath 208 

Zeresh, ze'resh {gold) 349 

Zeror, ze'ror {bundle) 238 

Zeruah, ze-ru'ah {leprous) 287 

Zeruiah, zer-u-i'ah or ze-ru-ya 263 

Zethar, ze'thar 341 

Zidon, zi'don {fishing) 291 

Zidonians, zi-do'ni-ans {inhabitants of Zidon) 286 

Ziklag, zik'lag 268 

Zilpah, zil'pah {dropping) 78, 89 

Zimri, zim'ri {celebrated) 30, 316 

Zin, zin {thorn) 159, 170 

Ziph, zif {flowing) 263 

Ziphites, zif'ites {inhabitants of Ziph) 262 

Zippor, zip'por {bird) 173 

Zipporah, zip-po'rah or zip'po-rah {feminine of Zippor) 115, 143 

Zoan, zo'an {low region) 159 

Zoar, zo'ar {smallness) 54, 171 

Zohar, zo'har {light) 65 

Zophim, zo'fim {watchers) 177 

Zorah, zo'rah {a place of hornets) 217 

Zuph, ziif {flag, sedge) 239 



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